REAL STORIES

Age: 17
Gender: Female
Location: West Virginia

About two years ago, my sister married her high school sweetheart. They were so incredibly happy. Both families were stoked for them. Approximately six months later, Derick, my sisteršs husband, stopped working for his father. We didn't really know why at the time. Apparently his father, Eddie, had begun to use meth. Eddie first started to become obsessed with little things like pressure washing. Then Eddie began to rip off customers at his auto-shop. That then turned into him stealing things. Eddie already had a history of domestic violence, and, as we know, meth brings out this side of people. His wife decided she was going to move out with her two younger kids until Eddie could clean up his act. After this, Eddie became bitter. I think, in his mind, he also blamed our family for it. He ended up cutting the break lines on my mother's truck when my sister was borrowing it.

The final chapter of Eddie's life was the least noble of all. His wife went to the house to get some things. A police officer went with her, barely looked over the place, and basically left her alone. Within five minutes, Eddie had killed her, a man who was helping her move, and then himself. Not only did Eddie's actions directly affect himself, his wife, and that man, but it also affected his children, the community and my family. Eddie was only on meth for about six months when this happened. Meth is a horrible, horrible drug and the people around here just don't understand that. They don't get the situation. In West Virginia, more meth is produced than any other state. Also, in West Virginia, Sissonville, where I live, is the meth capital. Meth is even sometimes called "Sissonville Slimfast." I don't think we should approach the topic so lightly.

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