A directed conversation on “the hell of meth addiction” was conducted at the second Town Hall meeting at Oklahoma Christian University Thursday night.
Jim Weaver, a minister at the Rural America Ministries, directed the conversation with the help of five panelists – four of whom were ex-addicts.
Panelists shared their personal struggles with addiction and how they overcame their struggles with drugs.
A national survey on drug use and health in 2012 reported approximately 1.2 million people were using meth in the past year alone. The average age of a meth user is 19 and a half years old.
To open the conversation with the panel, Weaver had panel members introduce themselves.
One panelist was Lori, who was a meth addict at the age of 17. She had an accident that disabled her at 23, which she recovered from then got clean at 37 and went on to get a P.H.D in addiction.
“What is so attractive about the drug is that it is cheaper, it is a longer high and easily available,” Lori said.
Annette Erin became involved in the ministry at the county jail in Wichita three years ago, where she conducts bible studies with the women there. While at the jail, Erin met Michelle, a recovering meth addict and alcoholic since the age of eight, who has been clean and sober for three years now.
Keith, a recovered addict and alcoholic who grew up in a church, started his addiction when he was 13 until he was around 43 years old. He has been clean for 12 years now.
The last member of the panel was Jimmy Kimberly, ho is 21 months sober.
Setting the discussion into motion, Weaver asked the panel members God’s response to their addictions, the consequences they suffered and their biggest regrets. Every speaker at the panel had something valuable they had lost or regretted.
Keith spoke of the time he had lost with his family and a good education he never took advantage of. Lori disclosed her inability to walk as an outcome of her addiction. Michelle said she lost custody of her five children forever while Jimmy regretted his selfish behavior among other things.
“I have been getting in trouble since the age of 16,” Jimmy said. “I have been in and out of jail, on probation, did drug court twice. When I got put in jail and my family left me there to sober up, that’s when I just felt God calling to me.”
According to audience member Rett Parker, a freshmen at Oklahoma Christian, the Town Hall showed him a different side of the struggle with addiction.
“When I came to this I expected them to be more broken,” Parker said. “I understand how bad meth and alcoholism can be so I expected them to be warning us how bad it is. But what I saw was people who were full of life and vibrant, and you can
The panelists each said they had been molded by their dark times. Zekeriah McNeal, Student Government Association president, said that the discussion was beneficial to his own growth.
“There was a lot to take in, a lot of heaviness to the topic but it was a good heavy.” McNeal said.
Weaver said that others’ stories of their struggles help refocus priorities in life.
“I need to look more closely around me, pay closer attention around me and the needs God is presenting to me, because what I will end up finding is Jesus will be teaching me about him through them,” Weaver said.
Weaver said students can make a difference in the lives of those struggling with addiction.
“I believe that the students here want to make a difference, and perhaps they don’t realize how much they really do,” Weaver said. “And they need to discover what opportunities are out there for them to do that.”
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