Meth in the City

Crystal meth or “ice” has moved from rural laboratories and small towns to larger cities across America, fast becoming one of the country's biggest drug problems. Readily available and hugely profitable to both drug makers and dealers, meth is also highly addictive. Today, meth is not only common to suburbia, but is also becoming a fixture in junior and senior high schools. The A&E-aired documentary Meth in the City takes a hard look at the modern meth phenomenon, focusing in particular on Atlanta, the “corporate headquarters” of the meth explosion. Because of Atlanta's proximity to interstates and international airports, the city has become a natural distribution point for drugs smuggled from the American Southwest. Combining interviews with former users and dealers, as well as law enforcement officials and health experts, Meth in the City illustrates meth's effects on the brain (the drug creates an initial feeling of euphoria and energy, quickly followed by paranoia, anxiety, emotional numbness, and depression), while also examining how meth abuse leads users to neglect careers, family, and friends in search of the next chemical high. Although it's possible to escape from meth addiction, it isn't easy, often requiring institutional treatment in addition to support from family members. Timely, provocative, and informative (but never preachy), this is a compelling investigation into an urgent community crisis. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)