| Updated: 12/07/2012 9:22 am |
Published: 12/06/2012 9:09 pm
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Meth users can't hide the damage.
It's written all over their faces, the images are gruesome and almost zombie like.
Law enforcement is using the real-life mug shots to bring that message home to our youth.
"I think people have the right to see what this narcotic can do," said Tulsa County Sheriff’s Major Shannon Clark.
The pictures of meth addicts arrested shows the weight and teeth lost while using the dangerous chemical.
"In a very short time on methamphetamine can turn them into looking like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," said Clark.
He is hoping the photos will help law enforcement gain ground in the battle against what they're calling an epidemic.
Clark told FOX23, he believes stopping it begins with educating teens about the effects or the cycle will continue.
"The worst scenarios, that are just catastrophic is when you see a meth lab go wrong and there's children involved," he said.
Meth addicts can suffer first and second degree burns or even death in meth explosions. Children are sometimes burned in those fires as well.
"They're innocent victims when their parents or their guardians are electing to manufacturer meth and there's a house fire," Clark said.
He says the bottom line is they're looking to change future generations and that starts when the kids know, “you live with those scars forever," he said.
So far Tulsa police have recovered fewer meth labs this year at 274, that's compared to 429 last year.
Remember you can report someone cooking or using meth anonymously by calling the Tulsa Metro Drug Task Force at (918) 592-METH.
