2008 Woodie Awards
Dark as crystal: Documentary reveals the faces of meth
Shannon Kuhfuss
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
Shannon Kuhfuss
City Times
On December 12, 2007, a powerful documentary titled "Crystal Darkness" aired on KPBS, which contained contributions from City College's Wendy Zizzo, Assistant Professor of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies Program, and some of her students.
"Crystal Darkness" is a 30-minute film demonstrating the toxic effects of Crystal Meth on our society today. In the documentary, various young people confess the dark truths of how Crystal Meth has destroyed their lives and the lives of those around them. Their testimonies, though shocking and grim, are intended to warn today's youth about the antagonistic effects of the drug.
The film is a campaign in itself, which came to San Diego on Dec.12 and is working its way around the United States one city at a time. According to the film's website, the campaign's desired outcomes are to "raise awareness of methamphetamine problems and solutions, assure meth hotline callers receive quality referrals, and to create linkages to ongoing prevention efforts."
The documentary explains the short and long term effects on the body, how the drug is made, and where it is made. The location of the Crystal Meth "cook houses" or production facilities is a concern to the San Diego community because most of the drug is being produced in Mexico and central California.
In an e-mail interview with Zizzo, she states, "The most important thing everyone should take away from this documentary is that addiction transcends all boundaries: race/ethnicity; religion; socioeconomic status; education; etc. And we should try to empathize with those who struggle with addiction instead of judging them."
The "Crystal Darkness" website states that San Diego had once been known as the meth capital of the United States. This lethal drug has since traveled across the country, but has not left San Diego. Programs such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Studies at City College set out to train the students to make a difference and counsel others dealing with their addictions.
City Times
On December 12, 2007, a powerful documentary titled "Crystal Darkness" aired on KPBS, which contained contributions from City College's Wendy Zizzo, Assistant Professor of Alcohol and Other Drug Studies Program, and some of her students.
"Crystal Darkness" is a 30-minute film demonstrating the toxic effects of Crystal Meth on our society today. In the documentary, various young people confess the dark truths of how Crystal Meth has destroyed their lives and the lives of those around them. Their testimonies, though shocking and grim, are intended to warn today's youth about the antagonistic effects of the drug.
The film is a campaign in itself, which came to San Diego on Dec.12 and is working its way around the United States one city at a time. According to the film's website, the campaign's desired outcomes are to "raise awareness of methamphetamine problems and solutions, assure meth hotline callers receive quality referrals, and to create linkages to ongoing prevention efforts."
The documentary explains the short and long term effects on the body, how the drug is made, and where it is made. The location of the Crystal Meth "cook houses" or production facilities is a concern to the San Diego community because most of the drug is being produced in Mexico and central California.
In an e-mail interview with Zizzo, she states, "The most important thing everyone should take away from this documentary is that addiction transcends all boundaries: race/ethnicity; religion; socioeconomic status; education; etc. And we should try to empathize with those who struggle with addiction instead of judging them."
The "Crystal Darkness" website states that San Diego had once been known as the meth capital of the United States. This lethal drug has since traveled across the country, but has not left San Diego. Programs such as the Alcohol and Other Drug Studies at City College set out to train the students to make a difference and counsel others dealing with their addictions.
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