PHOENIX -- A former drug addict who didn’t want his last named used is sharing his story about the dangers of crystal methamphetamine ahead of a documentary about the drug airing across Arizona.

James, 22, is former drug user who said he started smoking marijuana when he was 12 and switched to crystal methamphetamine when he was 17.

“It went from only going to do this on the weekend to only going to do this after school only after we cleaned our room,” he said. “It escalated from there to an everyday thing.”

James said the drug had an immediate effect.

“I had pushed myself away from family,” James said. “I was lying, cheating, stealing, barely going to class.”

Phoenix police Commander Chris Crockett said law enforcement officers across the U.S. believe methamphetamine is the No. 1 factor that impacts the crime rate.

“Property crime, ID theft, fraud, burglary -- a lot of those crimes are committed by meth addicts,” Crockett said. . The goal of the documentary "Crystal Darkness" is to let people know just how far-reaching the effects of methamphetamine addiction are.

“The misconception is that meth only happens to other people and actually what we find, to quote one of the people in jail, ‘Meth is an equal opportunity destroyer,’” Crockett said.

Now recovered, James is talking to students around the Valley about the dangers of methamphetamine and warning parents about what they should look for.

“If you're questioning their behavior and you don't like the answer you're getting, dig until you find what you want,” he said. “Don't be afraid to drug test because we don't need you to be our friend, we need you to be our parent.”

The drug is made most often in Mexico but Arizona is still a critical hub for the distribution of the methamphetamine.

"Crystal Darkness" airs Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on CBS 5. Nearly every network-affiliated and independent Arizona television station will simultaneously broadcast the documentary.