App developed by Aussie couple shows effect of meth on person taking ice after 3, 6, 12 months
If there is an app showing what a child looks like when he grows older into an adult, there is another app that also forecasts how a person would look after several months. However, this app is focused on the aftermath of crystal meth on a user’s facial features.
Methamphetamine, also known as ice, causes users to develop weeping sores on the face as they increase their intake of the illegal substance. It is one of the side effects of the drug that the app “Ice Effex” seeks to warn users, reports The New York Daily News.
Haydn Cooke and Trinity Lonel, homelessness support workers, developed the app which takes a selfie of an ice user and digitally alters their appearance to show physical deterioration after 3, 6 or 12 months of using the drug. They developed the drug after witnessing the devastating effect of meth on users in their area in Wangarrata, Australia.
Methamphetamine, according to Drugs.com, is a central nervous system stimulant that affects chemicals in the brain and nerves and contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.
Besides creating images, the app also provides medical data on the impact of meth on the bodies of users, particularly the physical deterioration. The couple focused on the physical impact of the drug to discourage the youth who are often the heavy users of ice.
Cooke explains, “If you see the effects on someone else you can easily disassociate yourself from that … But to actually see yourself in that way, hopefully that makes a difference.”
The app could be downloaded on iPhones from the App Store for use in schools and drug education campaigns.
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