Louis Theroux - The City Addicted to Crystal Meth (Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends)

Member Name: lele123

Product:	Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends
Date:	12/08/09 (68 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Theroux's clever journalist style makes interesting television.

Disadvantages: Bleak prospects for addicts, relapse was too frequent. Reformed users not investigated in depth.

Louis Theroux travels to Fresno, California to uncover the impact of the highly addictive drug methamphetamine, more commonly known as Crystal Meth. Fresno is a city riddled with poverty, unemployment, crime and homelessness. If this is not enough the city is coined the "methamphetamine capital" of the USA. The consequences of the drug are detrimental to the entire community. Virtually unknown in the United Kingdom, Crystal Meth has taken to the states like wildfire. Over the past few years Crystal Meth has become the primary drug of choice in Fresno because it can be obtained at a low cost, made easily and is highly addictive. When talking to the police, Theroux discovers that 50% of crimes committed are Meth related and the figures show no signs of improving.

Theroux delves deep into the community in the attempt to understand the addiction and its consequences. Along the way he meets addicts, ranging from teens to housewives. He joins the police on night duty encontering numerous addcits. He also visits the WestCare centre, coincidently California's the largest rehabilitation facility.

Louis Theroux's clever interviewing technique is a combination of staged innocence and English awkwardness. This allows him to ask extremely personal questions to the subject that other journalists would simply not be able get away with. This is evident when he meets an ex dealer, Kevin and his Meth companions. Kevin has two young children both under five years old. Theroux probes Kevin in a non confrontational manner about his children being exposed to substance abuse, in return he receives an honest response. Theroux's style is integral to what makes this documentary extremely insightful and informative. His eagerness to understand the drug epidemic guides the audience towards the heart of the problem.

Diane and Karl are the most intriguing addicts in the documentary. Both Diane and Karl have used Crystal Meth for over 30 years whilst maintaining a 25 year marriage. On the surface the couple's life appears to be strangely normal. Diane is a student, ironically studying to become drugs counsellor. They have a respectable home and a lively dog running around the garden. On the exterior they seem perfectly happy. However underneath there is a dark undertone. For many Crystal Meth addicts they continue to use in order to mask the pain of a traumatic event. Diane and Karl are no different. Diane was raped as a young girl. Additionally, to support their drug habit the couple turned to extremes. Karl encouraged Diana to prostitute herself in order to support their addiction and the couples five children were given over to the Child Protection Services for their safety.

The documentary is true to Theroux's unique style, he reveals whole families involved in the addiction and the result is large scale breakdown of the community and family structure. This is defiantly a must see!!!

Summary: Shocking insight to America's sinister drug problem.