The Visible Effects of Hard Drugs on the Body

One of the ugliest parts of living in a small town is the ratio of people who use drugs.  What is really sad is how apparent it is.  Many drugs damage the body in many obvious ways.  Crystal Meth is one of the most obvious.

Lisa and I are close to the same age, yet there are people she graduated with that look well over double our age.  The scars, the sagging skin, the wrinkles, and the teeth are all huge indicators.  There are so many folks she’s introduced me to that look as old as Lisa’s mother (who has aged decently well) yet are either our age or younger.



I often try to think that surely in big places the ratio is the same, but I know its not.  It’s a huge issue with the smaller towns of the US.  Drugs, especially the hard core ones, run rampant out here.  You can blame many aspects of society, but you figure it has to come down to sheer boredom.

In the city there are many who use recreational drugs far more than those people out here in the middle of nowhere, which is its own problem.  But this problem, of such hard drugs out here, is crazy.  I can see why it happens so easily....  The lack of police, the wide open area, the availability of the ingredients, and the sheer boredom of the people to sell to.

You never realize how bad it is, until you shake someone’s hand, and see someone who has been ravaged by these drugs.  It’s a true shame it happens, but when you step back and look at the bigger picture, it’s easy to tell how it happens.  It really stays in families, parents do it, so their kids do it.

There are also the obvious stressors, so many broken homes exist out there.  Men leaving their wives because they just want to drink and party instead of being tied down at home.  Fact is, they are just bored, and find their entertainment by cheating or heading to strip clubs or finding ways to pass the time with chemicals.

I can tell you right now, it is truly hard to stay here, to see this all around and not want to help or run away.  But the fact is, these people do not want help, so we’ll get away as soon as we can.  Its truly amazing how people chose to destroy their bodies, for a few fleeting moments of bliss.  Boredom is a true killer.

Hyper boredom is a huge issue with society today, as I will cover in another blog topic.  The fact that there is so much to do, that one becomes bored with it all and needs another form of release is something that needs to be looked at in a psychological way.  If I was in college, I’d probably do my thesis over the topic, because its an epidemic that no one understands, and can easily lead to drugs.

All I know for sure it, there are many folks in this community I can point to as examples of why you shouldn’t use drugs.  Its sad and ugly, but it’s a part of life here in rural USA.  The best part about it?  No one cares.  Yeah, sarcasm at its finest....  When I think of “America” this situation is what pops in to mind.  Drugs and boredom.  The saddest parts of living here....