Websites Show Harsh Realities of Meth Use

Posted by Susan Carney Jun 17, 2009

Check out these two websites to get teens' attention and start a dialogue with them regarding the impact of meth use. The Faces of Meth is a project that uses before and after mug shots to show the physical progression of the addiction. Viewers see how years of use cause sores, lesions, tooth rot, and other physical damage. These types of images may be particularly successful in prevention efforts aimed at teens, who are very image conscious and are likely to have an emotional response to the pictures.

The Meth Project. originated in the state of Montana in 2005 and has since spread to several other western states and has received acclaim for its gritty, hard look at the physical and psychological effects of meth addiction. There are TV, print, and internet spots designed to make a strong impact on young viewers. Be warned, they are shocking and difficult to view. But the very devastation that makes them difficult to look at is what makes them so important for teens to see and talk about with adults.

Please share these spots with your teens and talk to them about how dangerous and addicting methamphetamine is. You can even download these materials for later use.