The Truth Of Drug Addiction - 2365 Words

Brandon LaVoie Mr. Calaver American Literature 2: Period 1 May 9, 2016 The Truth Of Drug Addiction â€Å"Life was good before I met the monster. After, life was great. At least for a little while† (Hopkins 1). In Ellen Hopkins novel , Crank , the main character, Kristina experiences her life collapsing due to methamphetamine. Kristina’s life had many possibilities of being successful. She was a gifted high-school student, discreet and never in trouble. Her talent was thrown away when she was introduced to methamphetamine. The reader follows Kristina s downward spiral as she attempts to feed her addiction and deal with the consequences of the bad decisions that she has made. At one of her lowest points, Kristina gains knowledge that she is†¦show more content†¦Methamphetamine and heroin affects American society negatively. Daniel Pontzer talks about how methamphetamine laboratories are dangerous. The illicit production of methamphetamine is a very dangerous activity. Explosions and fires are a serious risk, especially if the toxic and combustible chemicals used to produce meth are exposed to too much heat, whether from the cooking process or from open flames. The heating of the chemical red phosphorus, an ingredient used in the drug’s production, creates a deadly gas. Each pound of manufactured methamphetamine produces about five to six pounds of hazardous waste, and meth producers take no special precautions when disposing of this waste. In some areas, the dumping, burning, or burial of such waste can threaten the drinking-water supply and contaminate the septic system. The health risks created by the toxic waste produced by meth labs include dizziness, hypertension, skin and respiratory system damage, asphyxia, cardiac arrest, stroke, coma, and death (Pontzer). Daniel Pontzer illustrates the dangerous activity of making methamphetamine. Poorly made methamphetamine laboratories are in risk of exploding, affecting areas around the exploded structure. Laboratories produce toxic fumes, that could harm living individuals nearby. Toxic waste produced by methamphetamine laboratories are often disposed carelessly. Drinking water may be affected