How do I tell a 12 year old about meth?

chick
peakiwi

To the addicts - how do I tell a 12 Year son about meth?

As some of you are aware I live in New Zealand. We have a very small population only 4 million people!

Anyway my point being that we have a meth "P" epidemic in our wee country and this is a frightening thought & reality.

My ex boyfriend is an addict, I've posted here about my experience dealing with him for the 10 months.
I have seen firsthand the devastating effect this drug can have on the addict and with the loved ones like myself.

The story below was printed in NZ Herald, and I worry for my 12 year old son. I have never discussed with him why the ex is no longer a part of my life, after he had been living with us for about 5 months. I have always played down why he no longer lives with us etc. I have told him lies to cover the TRUTH. I mean what do you tell a 12 year old about drugs?
I have no clue how to approach this subject with him. I desperately want to be honest with him about my experience with ex and also educate him, to give him the tools to not take this path.

This is where I am asking for some guidance. To those of you who got hooked "early" what would you tell my son?
How far do I go about the facts?

Here is the news article:

Fears drop in price of P attracting more teens 1.00pm Wednesday November 29, 2006
   Teenagers as young as 14 are trying methamphetamine or P as the price of the drug has halved in the last year, a drug education group Welltrust says.
   The group, which works with youths through schools and in conjunction with police, said it was worrying that the drug that used to be targeted to adults was becoming prevalent among youth.
    Welltrust executive officer, Murray Trenberth, said the price for a "hit" of P had dropped to $60 from $120 a year ago. Drug dealers were also giving free samples of P with marijuana that teenagers bought.
    Mr Trenberth said a 2002 Auckland University study had found that 20 per cent of youths were "problematic users" of marijuana by the age of 16. "They are the kids who are likely to try P," he said.
   The visible aging affect of P on young people after a year of use was extreme, he said. "It's what's happens to the teeth, it's what's happens to the face - its marks and lesions. It looks like they are 10 years older or have contracted Aids." Mr Trenberth said. Through counseling they educated youths about how drugs affected their brains and lives. The group had about a 60 percent success rate, he said. "Some of those kids use P just to feel normal," he said.

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