Life After Meth Addiction

For many meth addicts, getting caught is the only ticket to recovery. Even after getting clean, many former addicts spend years repairing the damage their using did to their families, relationships, careers, and health.

South Mississippi’s WLOX talked to six former addicts about the challenges of recovering from addiction to methamphetamine.

"When you're using meth, you think you're on top of the world," said Bubba Killingsworth, who has been free from the drug for nearly four years.

Many former meth users say that their lives quickly disintegrated after trying the drug.
"Started out buying a gram," said Debrah Hayes of her battle with meth. "Now I [was] cooking three times a week."

Some people quickly lost their careers and became completely consumed with addiction.
"It will end up being your job," said Stacey Randall, another former meth user.

"It was chaos all the time," said Swen Thomas of his 15-year addiction to methamphetamine.

Many of the people who spoke to WLOX said willpower just wasn't enough to break the cycle. "Anybody who is on meth has got to hit rock bottom," said former user Brandy Valentine.

The six people who spoke to WLOX were all arrested and convicted on felony drug charges. Instead of being jailed long-term, they turned to Jackson County drug court. Some people wanted to go through drug court to reclaim their lives, whiles others wanted to slide through to continue using. But regardless of their initial desires, all six told WLOX that drug court helped them dramatically change their lives for the better.

In drug court, participants stay busy with community projects, reading assignments, weekly meetings, and scheduled and random drug tests. Even small mistakes could land a participant in jail, at least for a short time. Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Robert Krebs said the rules may be strict, but he wants each member to rise to the challenge and succeed.

"They're not stupid people," Krebs said. "You can't be stupid and survive on the street like they have. But what they're confronted with are the things that you and I have to do every day. Get up, get the children off to school, go to work."

In drug court, relearning structure, order, and discipline is the foundation for recovery.

"They will have urges," said Counselor Jim Hite. "They will have times when they are stressed and frustrated and seriously want to go back to using. They're probably going to have to go to group therapy and meetings for the rest of their lives, in most cases,” he said.

"If you let your guard down, it's like a monster in the closet," Hayes said of the cravings. "It'll come back out. It wouldn't take a lot."

As former meth users fight to stay clean, many also face regret about the permanent damage they may have done to their health. All six of the people interviewed said they regret putting their health at risk while addicted to meth.

"I still have a lot of problems," Hayes said. "And I don't know for sure, but I think it's from the meth. You know all the chemicals and stuff. I still have a lot of stomach problems and stuff."

"I've seen friends of mine that look 90 years old," added Stacey Randall, who is the sister of Bubba Killingsworth.

Insomnia is another problem that meth users deal with. "You go without sleep long enough, and you'll get psychotic," Hite said. "And that's another thing that typically happens psychologically with crystal meth addicts is they become paranoid and they have visual and auditory hallucinations. And that's irreversible."

It's hard to tell what recovering meth users will face in the future. "The verdict's out," added Hayes. "Doctors don't know what it does to your body. You know, it could be some major health problems."

"I did meth 15 years, every day," said Swen Thomas. "And I've been clean for like almost two years now. And I can remember more in the two years than in the 15 years. I like this life better."