Presentation reveals ugly 'Faces of Meth'

Sgt. Jeffery Burke from the State Police Narcotics Division in Albuquerque talks about how meth affects a person's appearance over time during the "Faces of Meth" community presentation on Thursday night at El Morro Theater. [Photo by Matt Hinshaw/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — The faces of meth aren't pretty. In fact, they're pale, wrinkled and riddled with sores.

El Morro Theater hosted a presentation on Thursday night about the dangers of methamphetamine entitled "The Faces of Meth," in which Sgt. Jeffrey Burke, of the state police's narcotics division in Albuquerque, displayed photographs of residents before and after they became addicted to what some law enforcement officials call the most dangerous drug in America.

The transformations weren't pleasant.

Meth is a synthetic drug made out of basic household chemicals and it serves as a stimulant that keeps users up for days on end.

The consequences of methamphetamine use not only take a toll on people's physical appearance, but also impact their behavior as well.

Burke described instances where addicts steal from family members and friends to support an expensive drug habit. Reports also indicate drug use contributes to nearly 90 percent of all domestic violence situations, he said.

After the initial rush, Burke said people usually transition into a state of high agitation that can lead to violent behavior. This is when many addicts develop criminal records, which often include violent crimes.

Burke also cited statistics that indicate more than 12 million people nationwide have tried methamphetamine and 1.5 million are regular users. Methamphetamine use also impacts people in Gallup and the surrounding reservation. Burke said state police agents often work in conjunction with Bureau of Indian Affairs to locate meth labs.

"We're going to do everything we can to get that junk out of our communities," he said.

Burke also expressed concern that realtors and landlords aren't required by law to inform tenants that their property was once the site of a meth lab. He said second-hand exposure to methamphetamine is a threat to the community.

Burke encouraged residents "to do their part" to end meth use in Gallup. "Meth has been the worst drug I've seen," he said.