Evergreen students learn about the grim effects of meth

Evergreen junior high students grimaced Thursday when they looked at images of "meth mouth" or the progression of oral decay when people use methamphetamine.

The images were shown during seventh- and eighth-grade health classes by Montana Meth Project Program Manager Alison Metzger-Jones.

Metzger-Jones was at the school Thursday to talk about the effects of meth, its ingredients and health and environmental risks.

She did this by going through the interactive website www.MethProject.org. The Montana Meth Project has launched a new campaign around the theme "Ask MethProject.org."

Metzger-Jones was invited to the school by eighth-grader Coral Bouchard, a member of Montana Meth Project Teen Advisory Council.

Bouchard said wanted to get her school more informed about the dangers of meth. She was concerned about how children, some as young as 11, are trying meth.

"I want youth not to be influenced by it, and for us to be the best that we can be," Bouchard said.

According to results of a 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, about three percent of Montana ninth- through 12th-grade students said they used meth one or more times.

"Meth was a huge problem in Montana, in particular around 2005, the use among teens skyrocketed and it was costing the state a lot of money and negatively impacting all these family and children," Metzger-Jones said.

Metzger-Jones then showed students "Mug Shot Match Up" on the website.

Students had to match "before" and "after" images of meth users whose faces had become covered in scabs. Then they had to guess how much time it took for the person's looks to deteriorate. Scabs are a telltale sign a person is using meth. The scabs are usually caused because a user imagines bugs crawling under his or her skin and tries to scratch them out, Metzger-Jones said.

Besides scabby skin and tooth decay, the mental side effects can be dire, including psychosis and thoughts of suicide.

Metzger-Jones asked students if they knew the origins of meth. Meth was discovered in Japan and used as a cheap way that would provide energy and alertness. The drug was given to Kamikaze pilots who made suicide attacks on warships during World War II.

"It's pretty scary people are using it recreationally when it was first created for people to kill themselves so should it be surprising that people often commit suicide?" Metzger-Jones asked.

Metzger-Jones said the Meth Project is aimed at reaching teens who are at the age when they may be around drugs and alcohol.

"We want kids to be educated to say ‘No.' This is an important message. People can get hooked on one try," Metzger-Jones said.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.