Did a Meth-Addicted Teen Write This Poem?

Claim:

A meth-addicted teen penned an insightful poem in jail shortly before dying of an overdose.

Rating:

False

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In common with an number of other online cautions aimed at teens, "I am Meth" took the form of an ode penned by (or about) an adolescent who paid the ultimate price -- death -- for falling victim to the societal ill being decried.

"I AM METH"

(This was written by a young Indian girl who was in jail for drug charges, and was addicted to meth. She wrote this while in jail. As you will soon read, she fully grasped the horrors of the drug, as she tells in this simple, yet profound poem. She was released from jail, but, true to her story, the drug owned her. They found her dead not long after, with the needle still in her arm.)

Please keep praying for our Children, Teens, Young adults. Understand, this thing is worse than any of us realize ...

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I destroy homes, I tear families apart,
I take your children, and that's just the start.

I'm more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold,
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember I'm easily found,
I live all around you - in schools and in town

I live with the rich, I live with the poor,
I live down the street, and maybe next door.

I'm made in a lab, but not like you think,
I can be made under the kitchen sink.

In your child's closet, and even in the woods,
If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.

I have many names, but there's one you know best,
I'm sure you've heard of me, my name is crystal meth.

My power is awesome, try me you'll see,
But if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once and I might let you go,
But try me twice, and I'll own your soul.

When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie,
You do what you have to — just to get high.

The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms
Will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in your arms.

You'll lie to your mother, you'll steal from your dad,
When you see their tears, you should feel sad.

But you'll forget your morals and how you were raised,
I'll be your conscience, I'll teach you my ways.

I take kids from parents, and parents from kids,
I turn people from God, and separate friends.

I'll take everything from you, your looks and your pride,
I'll be with you always — right by your side.

You'll give up everything - your family, your home,
Your friends, your money, then you'll be alone.

I'll take and take, till you have nothing more to give,
When I'm finished with you, you'll be lucky to live.

If you try me be warned - this is no game,
If given the chance, I'll drive you insane.

I'll ravish your body, I'll control your mind,
I'll own you completely, your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I'll give you while lying in bed,
The voices you'll hear, from inside your head.

The sweats, the shakes, the visions you'll see,
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.

But then it's too late, and you'll know in your heart,
That you are mine, and we shall not part.

You'll regret that you tried me, they always do,
But you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen, many times you were told,
But you challenged my power, and chose to be bold.

You could have said no, and just walked away,
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?

I'll be your master, you will be my slave,
I'll even go with you, when you go to your grave.

Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? It's all up to you.

I can bring you more misery than words can tell,
Come take my hand, let me lead you to hell.

In this genre, it is not seen as enough for the story told in rhyme to be horrific or for the ill that is its subject to present an actual and potentially life-ending danger to young people -- its central figure and/or author must die to truly drive home the finger-waving. Other examples of such poems: Teen girl who disobeyed her parents and sneaked off to a party died in a two-car accident caused by her drunk, stoned date that claimed not only his life but that of her parents, and another teen girl killed in a different automobile accident brought about by her drunken boyfriend.

Methamphetamine, the subject of "I am Meth," poses a real danger to teens and others. It is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the central nervous system. This illegal drug is sold as a crystal-like powdered substance that sometimes is vended in large rock-like chunks. It can be swallowed, injected, breathed in (snorted), or smoked. The drug causes in the user increased activity, decreased appetite, and a general sense of well-being. Its effects can last 6 to 8 hours.

Meth addiction is a growing problem in the U.S. and Canada. As the poem says, the drug is addictive and quickly takes over the lives of its users. (To gain a better idea of how swiftly it can ravage a person, examine the comparison of "then and now" photographs presented by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. In this case, a picture -- or rather, a pair of them-- is worth a thousand words.)

Different adolescents have at times claimed to be the poem's author. One was Amanda Canaday of Barriere, a community 45 minutes north of Kamloops, British Columbia. In 2005, Ms. Canaday, who was then 16 years old, read it at a community meeting about methamphetamine, claiming she was the piece's writer. This was her version:

Miss Crystal Meth
By Amanda Canaday

I destroy homes, I tear families apart
I take your children and that is just the start
I am more valuable than diamonds,
more precious than gold,
I am easily found, I live all around you
In schools and in towns
I live with the rich, and I live with the poor
I live down the road and maybe next door

I am made in a lab but not in one quite like you think
I can be made under your kitchen sink
or in your child’s closet and even in the woods
if this scares you to death it certainly should
I have many names but there is one you’ll know best
I am sure you have heard me my name is crystal meth

My power is awesome
Try me and you’ll see
But if you do you may never break free
Just try me once and I might let you go but
Try me twice and I will own your soul

When I possess you, you will steal and you will lie
You will do what you have to get just get high
You will forget your morals and how you were raised
I will be your subconscious I will teach you my ways
I will take your kids from your parents and your parents from your kids
I will turn people from God, I’ll separate your friends
I will take everything from you even your good looks and your pride
I will always be with you right by your side

You will give up everything, your family, your friends, your money
You will be all alone
I will savage your body, I will control your mind|Your soul will be mine. The nightmare you will when you are lying in bed
You will hear voices in your head
The sweats and shakes and the visions I want you to know these are the gifts from me. You will regret.
You come to see me and not I to you. You knew this would happen
If you could live that day over what would you say
I will be your master and you my slave
Now that you met me, will you try me or not, it is all up to you

An earlier version of the poem that surfaced in an Alabama newspaper in 2003 ascribed the item to "a local teenager, who asked not to be identified by name" and who "wrote about what I’ve been told is his experience with crystal meth and the devastating impact it has had on his life, as well as, the lives of his friends and family." This is the unnamed Alabama teen's version:

My Name Is!!!!

I destroy homes, I tear families apart.
I take your children, and that’s just the start.
I’m more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold.
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me remember, I’m easily found.
I live all around you, in school and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor.
I live just down the road, and maybe next door.

I have many names, but there’s one you’ll know best.
I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is Crystal Meth.
My power is awesome, try me and you’ll see.
But if you do, you may never break free.

Just try me once, and I might let you go.
But if you try me twice, then I’ll own your soul.

You’ll lie to your mother, you’ll steal from your dad.
When you see their tears, you must not feel sad.
Just forget your morals and how you were raised.
I’ll be your conscious, I’ll teach you my ways.

I take kids from their parents, I take parents from their kids.
I turn people from God, I separate friends.
I’ll take everything from you, even your good looks and your pride.
I’ll be with you always, right there by your side.

You’ll give up everything, your family, your home.
Your money, your friends, you’ll be all alone.
I’ll take and I’ll take until you’ve no more to give.
When I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live.

If you try me be warned, this is not a game.
If I’m given the chance, I’ll drive you insane.
I’ll ravage your body, I’ll control your mind.
I’ll own you completely, your soul will be mine.

By then it’s too late and you’ll know in your heart,
That you are now mine, and we shall not part.

You knew this would happen, how many times were you told?
But you challenged my power, you chose to be bold.
You could have said "No" and then walked away.
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?

Now that you’ve met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not, it’s all up to you.
I can show you more misery than words can tell;
Come take my hands, let me lead you to hell.

Samantha Reynolds of LeFlore County, Oklahoma -- not a teen but an adult woman -- also claimed to have written this piece in 2000. At the time "Ms. Crystal Meth" was set down, Ms. Reynolds' daughter was in the 7th grade. Neither the author nor her daughter have even used meth, let alone died of an overdose.

Says Samantha Reynolds of the reaction she's received from readers of her poem:

Many of these people asked how long I'd been using it. They were surprised when I told them I didn't use it and that I'd never even seen methamphetamine. A few people plainly told me they didn't believe me because the poem could only have been written by someone who was addicted.

I've seen the effects of meth addiction up-close and personal. Not only have I lost someone to the drug, but one of my children was a victim of a terrifying home invasion by someone who was high on meth. I've let a few children move into my home whose parents were addicted to drugs. It isn't necessary for one to be an addict to get a first-hand look at the devastation meth causes because the user of the drug drags their loved ones through hell right along with him/her.

Here is the first version of Reynolds' "Ms. Crystal Meth," as published by the The Heavener Ledger in September 2000:

Ms. Crystal Meth

I destroy homes. I tear families apart. I take your children, and that’s just the start. I’m more valued than diamonds, more precious than gold. The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.

If you need me, remember; I’m easily found. I live all around you, in school and in town. I live with the rich. I live with the poor. I live just down the road, and maybe next door.

I'm made in a lab, but, not in one like you think. I can be made under your kitchen sink. Or in your child's closet, and even out in the woods. If this scares you to death, it certainly should.

I have many names, but there’s one you’ll know best. I’m sure you’ve heard of me: My name's Crystal Meth. My power is awesome. Try me, you’ll see. But if you do, you may never break free. Just try me once, and I might let you go. But if you try me twice, then I own your soul.

When I possess you, you'll steal and you'll lie. You'll do what you have to, just to get high. The crimes you'll commit for my narcotic charms will be worth the pleasure you'll feel in my arms.

You’ll lie to your mother. You’ll steal from your dad. When you see their tears you must not feel sad. Just forget your morals, and how you were raised. I’ll be your conscience. I’ll teach you my ways.

I take kids from their parents. I take parents from kids. I turn people from God. I separate friends. I’ll take everything from you; even your good looks, and your pride. I’ll be with you always, right there by your side.

You’ll give up everything; your family, your home, your money, your friends. You’ll be all alone. I’ll take and I’ll take, 'til you’ve no more to give. When I finish with you, you’ll be lucky to live.

If you try me, be warned: THIS IS NOT A GAME. If I’m given the chance, I’ll drive you insane. I’ll ravage your body. I’ll control your mind. I’ll own you completely. Your soul will be mine.

The nightmares I'll give you when you're lying in bed. And the voices you'll hear, from inside your head. The sweats, the shakes, and the visions you'll see; I want you to know these are your gifts. From me.

By then it’s too late, and you’ll know in your heart that you are now mine, and we shall not part. You'll regret that you tried me. (They always do.) But you came to me, not I to you.

You knew this would happen. How many times were you told? But you challenged my power. You chose to be bold. You could have said 'no', and then walked away. If you could live that day over, now what would you say?

My power is awesome, as I told you before. I can take your mother and turn her into a whore.

I'll be your master and you'll be my slave. I'll even go with you when you go to your grave.

Now that you’ve met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you.
I can show you more misery than words can tell.

Come, take my hand, and let me lead you to Hell.