Methamphetamine, often called crystal meth, is a drug that can plunge its users into a dark, bottomless cesspool of illness and despair.

“Crystal Darkness,” a television documentary, featured recovering meth addicts and public officials talking about the dangers of the drug. The broadcast of the documentary was the finale of the third annual Graham/Greenlee Meth Awareness Conference on April 15 at the Eastern Arizona College. The documentary was broadcast over most television stations throughout Arizona.

Prior to viewing “Crystal Darkness,” about 190 people attended sessions that addressed a variety of drug-abuse issues, including signs of addiction, effects of substance abuse, abuse of over-the-counter medications, and recovery.

Greenlee Sheriff Steve Tucker demonstrates a meth gun at the Meth Awareness Conference. Photo by Diane Saunders

Local pharmacist Kyle Clonts talked about the effects of taking an overdose of cough syrup. He also discussed the symptoms of caffeine overdose. He said caffeine is present in cola drinks, energy drinks and chocolate, in addition to coffee and tea.

Dr. Clay Hargis, who heads the emergency room at Mount Graham Regional Medical Center, talked about effects of substance abuse. Methamphetamines cause high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, psychosis, fever, delirium, seizures, acid buildup in the blood, vomiting, diarrhea and skin sores.

Babies absorb the drug from their mothers while still in the womb. Hargis said a baby born addicted to meth will not feed well, will be irritable and will suffer tremors.

After a dinner and seeing a demonstration of the meth gun by Greenlee County Sheriff Steve Tucker, conference participants watched “Crystal Darkness.”

The recovering meth users featured in the documentary talked about how their lives went into a downward spiral after they began using the drug.

“You really sell your soul to the devil,” one recovering addict said.

The documentary described the “intense rush” users feel after injecting, snorting or smoking the drug. The rush comes from dopamine, a brain chemical, that is produced in enhanced amounts because of the drug. Soon, the brain needs more meth to produce the same high because the brain’s pleasure receptors are being destroyed, according to the documentary.

Meth addicts will do just about anything to get money to pay for their next fix.

“You lose your convictions,” said a young woman who is a recovering addict.

Another recovering addict, a young man, said he forgot how to be a human being.

While living in a world of drug-induced highs, meth addicts put themselves at risk of suffering the effects of high blood pressure or having a heart attack. They endure a variety of symptoms and illnesses, and ruin their lives and the lives of their loved ones.

Though they are ill and undernourished, most addicts are not able to kick the habit on their own and find it difficult to get the help they need.

“I wanted nothing more than to become sober,” one young man said.

Kathy Grimes, coordinator of the Graham/Greenlee Anti-Meth Coalition, asked the audience to help stem the use of meth in the area.

“Get involved and help us make a difference,” Grimes said.

Safford Police Chief John Griffin thought the documentary carried a strong message against the use of methamphetamine.