Wendy Zukerman (Host)

which is quite a bit faster, according to other research, than for alcohol, cocaine or cannabis. So while the majority of people who try meth will actually never get addicted to it.

which is quite a bit faster, according to other research, than for alcohol, cocaine or cannabis. So while the majority of people who try meth will actually never get addicted to it.

And this is where that stereotype or even the people that you see using meth in the news, this is where it really comes from. It's the minority of users who fall far. And for most of the people that I spoke to about their meth use, the ones that you're hearing from, Their meth use, it actually did get pretty bad.

And this is where that stereotype or even the people that you see using meth in the news, this is where it really comes from. It's the minority of users who fall far. And for most of the people that I spoke to about their meth use, the ones that you're hearing from, Their meth use, it actually did get pretty bad.

So that listener from the start of the show who at first felt really twinkly, like she was from Twilight when she started using meth, she ended up getting arrested twice. Others lost jobs, got kicked out of their home, found themselves in really dangerous situations. Theo, who started using meth in his late teens, remembers when his addiction had well and truly set in.

So that listener from the start of the show who at first felt really twinkly, like she was from Twilight when she started using meth, she ended up getting arrested twice. Others lost jobs, got kicked out of their home, found themselves in really dangerous situations. Theo, who started using meth in his late teens, remembers when his addiction had well and truly set in.

Theo knew the day he had to quit. He was in his room. He could hear his sister on the phone with his mom, who lives in Mexico. He's got a really good relationship with them both, loves them a lot. And Theo could hear them talking about him and how bad he was doing.

Theo knew the day he had to quit. He was in his room. He could hear his sister on the phone with his mom, who lives in Mexico. He's got a really good relationship with them both, loves them a lot. And Theo could hear them talking about him and how bad he was doing.

So what did you do next?

So what did you do next?

And once you are addicted like this, it can be hard to quit. The stats are a little all over the place depending on stuff like how long the studies follow people for. But as an example, there was this one US study of more than 300 meth users who went to an LA treatment center and they found that around 40% stayed off meth for the first year. Five years later, only 13% were abstinent.

And once you are addicted like this, it can be hard to quit. The stats are a little all over the place depending on stuff like how long the studies follow people for. But as an example, there was this one US study of more than 300 meth users who went to an LA treatment center and they found that around 40% stayed off meth for the first year. Five years later, only 13% were abstinent.

Another survey, slightly better results, 25% were abstinent. So one in four, five years later. Theo ended up going to AA and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He's relapsed a few times, which according to one study, happens to about half of those who try NA. But he told me that it's never gotten as bad as it was that first time. And he's doing much better now. Theo has gone back to college.

Another survey, slightly better results, 25% were abstinent. So one in four, five years later. Theo ended up going to AA and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. He's relapsed a few times, which according to one study, happens to about half of those who try NA. But he told me that it's never gotten as bad as it was that first time. And he's doing much better now. Theo has gone back to college.

He's almost finished a math degree.

He's almost finished a math degree.

For Tina, when her boyfriend at the time got a job overseas, she saw it as this opportunity to stop using. And actually, when Tina told her mom, I'm leaving, they had this big fight.

For Tina, when her boyfriend at the time got a job overseas, she saw it as this opportunity to stop using. And actually, when Tina told her mom, I'm leaving, they had this big fight.

She's been off meth for almost 10 years. And in fact, a few of our listeners that you heard from stopped using by basically walking away. Researchers like Dr. Krista Seyfried at the University of New South Wales in Sydney are now looking into new ways to help folks with meth dependence. And some are pretty surprising.

She's been off meth for almost 10 years. And in fact, a few of our listeners that you heard from stopped using by basically walking away. Researchers like Dr. Krista Seyfried at the University of New South Wales in Sydney are now looking into new ways to help folks with meth dependence. And some are pretty surprising.