Montana Meth is a personal look at the physical and psychological damage caused by meth, a particularly sinister drug whose effects range from tooth decay, skin lesions and paranoia to brain damage, seizures and death.
Filmmaker Ames Yates talks to several addicts and recovering addicts whose lives have been paralyzed by drugs, including 16-year-old Graham, a former straight-A student and Athlete, who dropped out of school after using methamphetamine for a year; Crystal, 22, and Rhianna, 21, whose life was so out of control during their three years on the drug that she traded “rough sex” for a year ago Meth, but stopped doing it a year ago.
Of particular note is a member of the Chippewa Cree tribe known as “Weasel” who lived half of his 22 years with a drug-addicted father whose girlfriend’s two children were taken for drug use. The cheapness and availability of meth — which one Montana tribal leader called an epidemic — is taking a huge toll on the region’s Native Americans.
Warning: Contains scenes which some viewers may find disturbing.
