# Breaking Bad Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860 "2012-08-08T14:40:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Time\_Stranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5fc32e/32.png) [@Time\_Stranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Stranger)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/21 "2012-08-24T18:09:44Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Jesse’s own meth use. Is there a particular reason why he doesn’t have meth mouth? Is he actually addicted? When kept from meth for long periods of time (like when he and Walt were forced to sit at gunpoint in the lab all day until Gus showed up), he demonstrates no signs of withdrawal. What’s up? I don’t know how this relates to Jesse in the show, but I know a couple of meth users and neither of them have meth mouth. One is my cousin, and she even went to jail for it she was in so deep, but she didn’t really look that bad all things considered. The other guy had the face sores, but seems fine otherwise appearance-wise (really they could pass as bad acne). Both of them were multiple-year users as far as a I know, but both would make pretty terrible candidates for those “Faces of Meth” scare tactic posters. They just looked like normal kids. Meth CAN really mess up your physical appearance, but I think meth mouth is not something that happens to everyone who uses, especially if they pay any attention to dental hygiene. /anecdote ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/22 "2012-08-27T18:46:48Z")
> [@Time\_Stranger](#): > > I don’t know how this relates to Jesse in the show, but I know a couple of meth users and neither of them have meth mouth. One is my cousin, and she even went to jail for it she was in so deep, but she didn’t really look that bad all things considered. The other guy had the face sores, but seems fine otherwise appearance-wise (really they could pass as bad acne). Both of them were multiple-year users as far as a I know, but both would make pretty terrible candidates for those “Faces of Meth” scare tactic posters. They just looked like normal kids. > > Meth CAN really mess up your physical appearance, but I think meth mouth is not something that happens to everyone who uses, especially if they pay any attention to dental hygiene. /anecdote Okay, I can buy that. But what about the lack of withdrawal symptoms? Chalk it up to artistic license on behalf of the writers? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/23 "2012-08-27T19:13:29Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Okay, I can buy that. But what about the lack of withdrawal symptoms? Chalk it up to artistic license on behalf of the writers? Coming off of meth isn’t like coming off of heroin. ---
**Author:** ![Scupper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Scupper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scupper)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/24 "2012-08-27T19:23:40Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Okay, I can buy that. But what about the lack of withdrawal symptoms? Chalk it up to artistic license on behalf of the writers? Withdrawal symptoms can vary pretty widely from person to person. And, in any case, just because they don’t portray it, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/25 "2012-08-27T20:27:59Z")
A point that may be relevant to some of the discussion above, regarding the passage of time in the show (I don’t think it’s a big spoiler, but just in case): The amount of time elapsed to date is only about a year, as marked by Walt’s birthdays - his 50th in the first episode, his 51st in the 4th episode of the current season. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860/26 "2012-08-27T23:23:11Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > The show is exceptional in its attention to reality. Ooooooh, yeah. I’m gonna have to go ahead and … _disagree_ with on this one, Bob. Just got done with season one. Saw so much nonsense I can’t believe this ever made it to a second season. Example: Meth-head throws out a batch because it _isn’t up to his high standards!_ Nobody notices when Walt strolls out of school with a butt-load of chemistry supplys that are apparently\* so \*important they maintain a written inventory! And he doesn’t change the inventory report! (and by the way- 3 respirators were missing, not 2) Walt and Meth-head just waltz out the door of the chemical supply place with big, giant drum of goodies, while the alarms are going off. And Walt blows up a building and just walks off casually. Does ABQ have any police, other than Walt’s brother-in-law? Eh, whatever. I’m just not feelin’ it. Totally underwhelmed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breaking-bad-question/630860.md?page=1)