One day you are an average teenager, an aspiring student, good grades, competitive athlete, close family and friends; and then you're homeless, alone, drug addicted and eventually end up in prison. This is what happened to Eric. He had heard about methamphetamine or “Meth” on the news, but only encountered it when he saw a friend using it. What started as what he thought was harmless became something he couldn't live a day without. It only took one time to get hooked and the downward spiral began; his life as he knew it would never be the same. He began stealing, lying, losing family and friends, being kicked out of his home, and ultimately losing his freedom. By this time, he had dropped out of school and found himself homeless, alone, tired, hungry and afraid. One night, when he tried to break into his mother's house to steal, the police were called and he was arrested. After 6 months in prison, he was released and did everything possible to stay clean; he relapsed several times. It wasn't until he realized that this lifestyle was hurting him, that he literally became sick and tired of the addiction and the pain it caused. Contrary to some beliefs that the benefits outweigh the risks, methamphetamine is not only a highly addictive and dangerous drug to both the mind and body, but it can also have harmful effects on those around you. Ask anyone if there are any benefits to using meth and chances are the answer is no; however, studies have shown that adolescents feel just the opposite. Frighteningly, seventy-seven percent of those who reported having tried meth were aged fifteen and under (2007, Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly). According...... middle of paper ......t). Accessed February 8, 2010 http://www.drugfree.org/Portal/DrugIssue/MethResources/eric_stone.html Snell, M. (2001). WELCOME TO METH LAND. Sierra, 86(1), 50. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database. Adolescents' attitudes toward meth are a sign of a problem, study finds (2007). Alcoholism & Drug AbuseWeekly, 19(37), 5. Retrieved February 8, 2010, from Academic Search Premier database. US Drug Enforcement Administration. (2002). Drug Facts: Methamphetamine. Accessed February 8, 2010 http://www.justice.gov/dea/concern/meth_facts.html Watanabe-Galloway, S., Ryan, S., Hansen, K., Hullsiek, B., Muli, V. and Malone, A. (2009). Effects of methamphetamine abuse beyond individual users. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 41(3), 241-248. Retrieved February 8, 2010 from Academic Search Premier database.