Shawn Bridges rests in his bed in the living room of his father's house in Cape Girardeau, Mo., last year. Bridges, whose documentary about how methamphetamine ravaged his body drew global attention, died Monday.
Man chronicles his death by meth use
35-year-old made documentary to warn others off highly addictive drug
Updated: 7:29 p.m. ET March 27, 2007
Shawn Bridges drew global attention last year for “No More Sunsets,” a 29-minute film shot by a former southern Illinois television videographer at Bridges’ request.
By his family’s account, Bridges already had died at least twice, his heart so damaged by years of using meth — a concoction that can include toxic chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner and fertilizer — that it stopped and had to be shocked back into beating.
The documentary shows Bridges mostly bedridden, his constant companions a catheter and feeding tube.
“I’d say he’s got a 34-year-old body on the outside with a 70-to 80-year-old man on the inside,” his father told The Associated Press last May
Roughly 28,000 people sought treatment for meth addiction across the country in 1993, accounting for nearly 2 percent of admissions for drug-abuse care, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Just a decade later, the meth-related admissions numbered nearly 136,000 — more than 7 percent of the national total for drug-abuse treatment.
Haunted by brother's deathFamily members have said Bridges had been haunted by the dreary day in 1976 when his younger brother Jason, barely a year old, died in a car wreck. Shawn was 4 and nowhere near the accident but still blamed himself, wanting to trade places with his dead sibling, his father said.
A lenient upbringing set Bridges on the road to becoming “a little monster,” his father said. “By 16, the kid was a high school dropout and partier.”
At 26, Bridges had a heart attack that his father blamed on meth’s ability to damage a chronic user’s heart and other internal organs. Bridges learned he had congestive heart failure. Twice, he tried to kill himself, according to family members.
During his final months in a hospital bed, Shawn’s words slurred to guttural sounds when he tried to talk. At times, he spit up blood, and his weight fell dangerously when he couldn’t keep food down. His father said Monday that Bridges developed a urinary tract infection shortly before he died.
INTERACTIVE
• A look at how heroin, cocaine and other drugs affect the body“I don’t think people will forget what got him to this point,” said Chip Rossetti, who filmed the documentary. “But what he did with his condition is really the amazing thing.”
Rossetti said 500 to 600 copies of the documentary have been sold, some going as far as Australia. Bridges was also profiled on German television. Rossetti said Monday he plans a sequel, chronicling Bridge’s final year and testimonials by people touched by his awareness effort.
“We wanted to keep him with us a lot longer, but we appreciate God’s good grace,” Jack Bridges said after his son’s death. “We’ll still be trying to drive home the point that these drugs are poison, and that people using them are heading the same place Shawn has gone.”
FREE VIDEO
• Meth addict dies March 27: A former trucker and methamphetamine addict who documented his demise in 'No more sunsets' died at the age of 35. MSNBC.com's Dara Brown has the story.
MSNBC.com
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
Updated: 7:29 p.m. ET March 27, 2007
ST. LOUIS - A former trucker whose documentary chronicled an agonizing descent as methamphetamine ravaged his body has died, optimistic to the end that his story would keep others from the highly addictive stimulant.
“He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does. We didn’t get to that point,” his father, Jack Bridges, said shortly after the 35-year-old died Monday at a hospital in Cape Girardeau.
“He didn’t want anyone to go through what he did,” his father said.
“He was extremely satisfied, wanting to do more in getting the word out and showing kids what meth harm does. We didn’t get to that point,” his father, Jack Bridges, said shortly after the 35-year-old died Monday at a hospital in Cape Girardeau.
“He didn’t want anyone to go through what he did,” his father said.
Shawn Bridges drew global attention last year for “No More Sunsets,” a 29-minute film shot by a former southern Illinois television videographer at Bridges’ request.
By his family’s account, Bridges already had died at least twice, his heart so damaged by years of using meth — a concoction that can include toxic chemicals such as battery acid, drain cleaner and fertilizer — that it stopped and had to be shocked back into beating.
The documentary shows Bridges mostly bedridden, his constant companions a catheter and feeding tube.
“I’d say he’s got a 34-year-old body on the outside with a 70-to 80-year-old man on the inside,” his father told The Associated Press last May
Roughly 28,000 people sought treatment for meth addiction across the country in 1993, accounting for nearly 2 percent of admissions for drug-abuse care, according to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Just a decade later, the meth-related admissions numbered nearly 136,000 — more than 7 percent of the national total for drug-abuse treatment.
Haunted by brother's deathFamily members have said Bridges had been haunted by the dreary day in 1976 when his younger brother Jason, barely a year old, died in a car wreck. Shawn was 4 and nowhere near the accident but still blamed himself, wanting to trade places with his dead sibling, his father said.
A lenient upbringing set Bridges on the road to becoming “a little monster,” his father said. “By 16, the kid was a high school dropout and partier.”
At 26, Bridges had a heart attack that his father blamed on meth’s ability to damage a chronic user’s heart and other internal organs. Bridges learned he had congestive heart failure. Twice, he tried to kill himself, according to family members.
During his final months in a hospital bed, Shawn’s words slurred to guttural sounds when he tried to talk. At times, he spit up blood, and his weight fell dangerously when he couldn’t keep food down. His father said Monday that Bridges developed a urinary tract infection shortly before he died.
INTERACTIVE
• A look at how heroin, cocaine and other drugs affect the body“I don’t think people will forget what got him to this point,” said Chip Rossetti, who filmed the documentary. “But what he did with his condition is really the amazing thing.”
Rossetti said 500 to 600 copies of the documentary have been sold, some going as far as Australia. Bridges was also profiled on German television. Rossetti said Monday he plans a sequel, chronicling Bridge’s final year and testimonials by people touched by his awareness effort.
“We wanted to keep him with us a lot longer, but we appreciate God’s good grace,” Jack Bridges said after his son’s death. “We’ll still be trying to drive home the point that these drugs are poison, and that people using them are heading the same place Shawn has gone.”
FREE VIDEO
• Meth addict dies March 27: A former trucker and methamphetamine addict who documented his demise in 'No more sunsets' died at the age of 35. MSNBC.com's Dara Brown has the story.
MSNBC.com
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed
So what was Idam's?
That at the end of the day having a friend worth so much more than any amount of money in the world. Money is so not worth fighting for, killing for, losing a friend for.
Now we can regret. Learn. And move on.
He made us realise that more.
If only we can avoid hurting the people we love. If only we can hold ourselves to not ever take people or things for granted. If only we can constantly avoid forgetting to thank God for all the pleasure we enjoy and the challenges in life we learn from.
Why wait for "if only's"...open your eyes, mind and heart...cherrish everything you have in life. Believe me it's much more than you deserve...you just have to learn to enjoy and appreciate.
1 comment:
New Book On A Family's Fight Against Meth
Good morning.
My name is Guenther Krumminga, and I work on various projects for Virgin Books USA. The reason I'm writing you today is because of an important new book being published this week that I think anyone involved -- either personally or professionally -- in the fight against drug abuse will want to know about.
The name of the book is "Loss of Innocence: A Daughter's Journey into the Underworld of Meth and a Father's Fight to Bring Her Back" and is actually written by the father and daughter, Ron and Carren Clem, of the title. The book tells the harrowing story of a family nearly torn apart when their 15-year-old daughter becomes addicted to Meth. It's a tale full of ironies: Ron Clem was himself a former LA cop and narcotics expert, and the family had moved to rural Montana in large part because of its wholesome atmosphere. But what's most remarkable about the book is that we have the rare opportunity to hear the story from both the point of view of a teenager so desperate to feed her habit that she's turned to stealing, dealing and even prostitution – and a father so intent on saving her that he literally risks everything to do so.
The book will be available at local stores and online booksellers like Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. This is really an amazing book, brutally honest in it's portrayal of what can happen to even the "best" of families. But the fact that Carren Clem ultimately is able to come clean and resume her life (she now works in Yellowstone National Park) offers a true message of hope and makes the book a must-read for anyone grappling with similar issues. At least that's the way I felt after reading it.
We'd love if you'd let others you think might find the book interesting/useful know about it; perhaps you’d consider sending out something to your listserve or posting something on your website or blog. And if you’d like to include an image of the book cover – or have any questions – please feel free to email me at: gkrumminga@info-filter.com
Thanks for your help. Best regards, Guenther Krumminga/Virgin Books USA
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