They've both lost con tact with family members because of their addictions and risked their health and sanity to keep using. Piche lost a successful business in Missoula to drugs, she said, and Waldron, who would get high and then gam ble, lost most of his belongings, his wife of 11 years and his children. Like many meth addicts, they say they lost control and literally could not stop the binging and crashing cycle of meth. When they're using, addicts can feel invincible and free of everyday worries and concerns. Meth causes more dopamine than nor mal to be released, however, soon making normal, every day pleasure meaningless.
Users also become almost manic, unable to sleep or even sit still.
They're often so physically exhausted they collapse for days. The drug also impairs the brain's dopamine-pro ducing ability, meaning it takes more and more meth each time to get high. It's not easy to share their stories and admit what their addictions caused them to do to themselves and their families, but Piche and Waldron decided to do so to deter others from trying the drug. Another story tells how most of the meth bought on the street in south western Montana comes from Mexico.