Published: May 18, 2008 01:50 am         

Many Faces of Meth: Anyone can get addicted, psychiatrist says

When she came to work, she was fidgety, jumpy, defensive. Her face would break out with sores. Her co-workers couldn’t figure out what her problem was.

Looking back, however, they now recognize the signs as those of a person who was addicted to meth. The problem was, however, they never would’ve expected it to be one of their own — someone they knew, someone they trusted, someone that worked in an environment where the staff was in constant contact with individuals with mental illnesses and drug addictions.

Dr. Fernando Siles, a psychiatrist with The Family Place in Greenville, also works with mental patients and individuals with drug addictions at Glen Oaks Hospital. His office manager, Jana Burrus and his nurse practitioner Kim Cotton are currently working on a book to help bring awareness and help stop the stigmas attached to mental illnesses.

Burrus, who has been working with Siles for seven years, recalled the time that a former co-worker was addicted to meth.

“She would leave at lunch all depressed, then she would come back happy, high as kite, and was real grandiose, loud and over the top,” she said. “She would also always have tons of candy with her.

“Then, it got to the point where she wouldn’t show up for work. We knew she was on something, but she eventually hit rock bottom. She lost her job, eventually went to rehab and then to a half-way house. It was hard because she was a great employee.

“People come here for help, and we couldn’t have someone like that work here, because she was a liability. In the long run, she lost everything, and it was sad to see her suffer and to see her life totally destroyed.”

According the DEA Web site, meth is a stimulant — a drug that tricks the brain and body into thinking that it has limitless stamina. As a consequence, however, meth produces bursts of energy and euphoria but eventually leads to severe depression, brain damage, physical deterioration and paranoia.

Siles said that meth is a highly additive drug and that meth addiction can happen to anyone of all ages and all walks of life.

“If individuals have enough meth, they can go three days non-stop,” he said. “They go without sleep and don’t eat much. Meth kills your appetite. And when someone is on meth, they’ll crave sugar, eat junk food and won’t eat anything nutritious.”

According to Siles, other symptoms of meth addiction include weight loss, speeds up the heart rate, malnutrition, and it affects the immune systems.

“It also affects the mind,” he said. “People on meth also become paranoid (in what we call ‘schizing out’). They might think people are watching you in a room, or sometimes, people will think that someone is recording their mind.”

Although meth is considered very addictive, Siles said that a number of factors come into play on how fast someone can become addicted to meth.

“If varies from person to person,” he said. “If a person has never been (on an addictive drug), then it might take several months to become addicted. But if a person (has been on an addictive drug before), then they can become addictive much faster.

“An addict will also rotate or replace a drug (if they’re drug of choice isn’t available).”

Siles said that he’s seen the meth problem in Greenville become more of a problem in the past two years.

“Meth labs are sill producing drugs in Greenville,” he said. ‘It’s easily available and affordable.”

Siles said that when people come off of meth, they will “crash.”

“They’ll sleep for three or four days.”

Siles said that most meth addicts have psychiatric problems including depression or being bi-polar.

“Many times, they try to self-medicate themselves with meth,” he said. “Husbands and/or wives will bring the other down by getting them hooked on meth.

“There’s ‘Meth Moms’ — mothers who do meth with their children. These mothers claim to be responsible and love their children, but they might say something like, ‘At least the kids are doing it (meth) with me.’”

Although Siles said there is help available for individuals on meth, a psychiatric hospital, such as Glen Oaks, will not admit someone who is just doing meth.

“Unless they are a danger to themselves or others (or have a mental illness)” he said. “If they meet the criteria, we will refer them somewhere to get help.”

Although Siles specializes in working with children and teenagers, he’s no stranger to working with people with addictions.

“A lot of meth addicts don’t seek help,” he said. “They’re thieves and act out of desperation (to get more meth).

“They lose everything. It’s the number one problem, and it will destroy lives and shatter goals and aspirations. And they (addicts) won’t seek help until they hit rock bottom.”