- Crystal meth is notorious for being highly addictive and ravaging countless communities. But few know that the drug can be traced back to Nazi Germany, where it first became popular as a way to keep pilots and soldiers alert in battle during World War II.
I'm glad that in the U.S. at least, meth is now less attractive as a recreational drug, if only because people are increasingly aware of its dramatic effects on the appearance. I also think more people are a aware of how nuts spun-out people can be. I used to work for a guy who had an associate, more like a gofer who went from a successful contractor to a guy found hiding in the crawlspace of where we worked. He had also unscrewed all the light bulbs, because the government manufactured them with microphones and were listening to everything people said, as long as the lights were on. The worst part about it, is he knew how much he had lost: his business, his marriage and of course, all his finances. And yet, he always found money for meth. Last time I saw him he was very solemn. He asked me to take care of myself as he thought the government was out to get me too. The reach of meth internationally is of particular concern, as from what I can tell, it's used more heavily in poorer countries, often as a way to keep working. Southeast Asia is one particular hotbed, especially in countries frequented by sex-tourists. Sex workers are often users, sometimes forcibly addicted to it so they can serve more customers. Also, it's seen as a better alternative to heroin as the workers are still active and can participate in the acts. Combined with the human trafficking element typically found in such places, these ingredients tend to create a perfect recipe for vicious cycles of despair. A friend of mine works at an NGO aimed at helping sex-workers in a variety of ways, ranging from safer sex practices and birth control to combating human trafficking. I like to think I'm made of pretty stern stuff, but I don't know that I'd want to put myself in a position to experience people whose lives are affected by that day-in and day-out. When I last spoke to my friend, it came as no surprise that he was looking for a different line of work.
Back in college there was a girl that we all called "Hot Kate." Hot Kate started taking meth and before too long she was just "Kate." Then, she was "Holy Shit What Happened To Her Teeth Kate." Ugly stuff. It's interesting to learn its origins.