Imperial, Mo. ? Jefferson County sheriff’s deputy Larry Michaels has tried everything to teach high school students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol — but nothing has held their attention quite like a new computer program that shows them what they will look like after they use methamphetamine.

“I’ve never seen the look of shock on their faces like I have with this,” Michaels said, shortly after several Windsor High School students volunteered to have their faces digitally altered during a health class to show how they would look after six months, one year and three years of meth abuse. “They can actually see themselves; there’s no imagining there.”

The Dec. 17 health class, which included freshmen through seniors, was among the first to use the computer program, called Face2Face, which mimics the physical effects of the drug, known for causing skin lesions and sagging, as well as tooth decay.

At first, it was difficult to get any girls to volunteer to have their image altered in front of their peers, Michaels said.

The health class at Windsor High School initially laughed and giggled when the images first appeared on the screen, especially as the computer program moved and manipulated their faces before settling on the final image.

But the laughs soon subsided, eyes widened and comments began.

“Oh, my God, that’s horrible.”

Senior Jessica Ackermann, 17, said her face altered to simulate three years of meth abuse resembled a zombie from Michael Jackson’s music video for “Thriller.”

“Other ones tell you about it; this one actually shows you what you would look like,” she said. “If you show this to someone who does meth, it would change their mind if they really cared about themselves.”