In hopes of getting the attention of teens by appealing to their vanity, an Oregon Sheriff's Department has developed a new prevention program called "From Drugs to Mugs." By using mug shots of real drug users over a period of time, the program shows stark evidence of the effect of drugs on the appearance of hardcore drug users.The side-by-side mug shots show the damage that meth, cocaine and heroin can do over the years, and sometimes in a few months.
The From Drugs to Mugs program is the work of Multnomah County Sheriff's Deputy Bret King, who also put together the Faces of Meth program which is also used as a prevention tool in schools in Oregon and throughout the country.
Appealing to Their Vanity
"The thinking is that this will give kids a tangible image of what can happen if they get involved in using hard drugs," King says. "We did want to appeal to their sense of vanity."
The From Drugs to Mugs program is a 48-minute documentary that features the startling mug shots as well as interviews with incarcerated drug addicts and experts who work with substance abuse on a daily basis - police, judges, medical examiners and addiction recovery specialists.
DVDs of the From Drugs to Mugs program are available on the website for $25, including shipping. Revenue from sales go to the costs of producing and shipping the DVD and to help the sheriff department continue making visits to schools throughout the Pacific Northwest.
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More About Meth: Photo: Mug Shots
This is a great program. Sometimes you have to scare kids straight. If the possibility of death doesn’t scare them, then you have to go to their shallow minds and focus on looks. Myteensavers chooses to advocate home drug testing teenagers. It’s simple, private, and reliable. Parents should be considering this.