August 18, 2008
The Ice Storm blog
Watch the program: Part 1 | Part 2

“You may find they want to sing for you.”

Those words from the director of Montana’s first ever rehabilitation prison for “meth” or crystal methamphetamine users could not really prepare me for the sound of 60 meth addicts, all dressed in prison issue sweat suits belting out, a rather forced version of “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy, when skies are grey, you’ll never know dear, how much I love you, Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

This was my welcome to the Lewistown Treatment Centre. At the time its doors opened, it was an American first. Montana had decided the traditional response to drug users was having no impact and a specialist program was needed.

So two facilities for the treatment of meth addicts, one for men and another for women, were opened. Neither is called a prison, But no one is allowed out until there time is done. It’s a nine-month program.

I had travelled to Montana to see how the community was responding to what it called a "meth" epidemic and to see what impact it was having.

Driving across the state and through the many small towns in summer time, the only real indication that there was a problem came from billboards warning of the dangers of using the drug.

But it was meeting families who had lost children to the drug, or were fighting to save them that was the most telling about the addictive nature and chemical qualities of "meth" itself.

-- From Ginny Stein, SBS TV
ABOUT THIS BLOG
World’s Untold Stories showcases courageous correspondents telling intimate stories of society's most vulnerable people. Often gritty, always powerful tales that open our eyes to a world that is at times disturbing and captivating. Storytelling that is raw and unyielding in its impact. World’s Untold Stories will bring the viewer tales from all corners of the world, and shine light on activities almost never exposed.

Schedule and description
SHOWTIMES

Tuesday 830am 130pm

Thursday 830am 130pm

Saturday 830am 1230pm 1030pm

Sunday 130am 630pm
SUBSCRIBE
    What's this?
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.