Meth use kills tens of thousands of Americans a year, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse
Meth use kills tens of thousands of Americans a year, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse
Meth use kills tens of thousands of Americans a year, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse
Alarming posts on social media warn about fentanyl-laced methamphetamine causing fatalities across Jefferson County.
Public health officials say they’re aware of the problem, but addressing it is slow, since lab testing takes more than a month to get results.
Methamphetamine use claims tens of thousands of American lives each year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Jeanne Sparks, a survivor of nearly two decades of meth addiction, hopes her story can inspire others to seek help.
“Meth made me a horrible mother. I was very neglectful of my children. I no longer took them to school, I no longer protected them,” Sparks said in a heartfelt statement about her struggles.
Frank Long, director of development at a local rehabilitation center, emphasized the widespread impact of meth addiction on women in the community.
“Approximately 65% of the women that come through our doors, right now we have 513 of them, suffer from substance use disorder. Oftentimes, that drug of choice, or drug of no choice, is meth,” Long explained.
For Sparks, the journey to recovery was not without hurdles. Now living sober, she urges others to recognize their own potential to overcome addiction.
“What they can’t see right now is there’s hope. There’s truly a way to be free of this and be a whole person again because you can. What one person can overcome, another person can overcome,” Sparks said.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can talk with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Hotline by calling 800-622-4357. You can find help near you by texting your ZIP code to 435748.
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