An expanded meth initiative couldn't be solely the prosecution of meth cooks and dope pushers, although that certainly would be an integral part. Attacking the demand for meth through prevention and intervention would be a more sure way to produce noticeable, long-term results. Keeping people off meth would cut down the demand.

Needed: money

Currently, the need for treatment far outpaces the funding for treatment. Prisons and jails are bulging with addicts. Hundreds of neglected and abused children are being placed in foster care.

Almost to a person, those dealing with meth and its related problems say they need one thing: money. That and perhaps a change in attitude about drugs users.

Money for treatment. Money for prevention. Money for resources.

Not just money indiscriminately thrown at programs. But money wisely placed where it can turn around lives and save future costs, both monetary and human.

"We haven't done a very good job of making this a public health issue," said Gary Baker, director of Cornerstone Counseling in Salt Lake City.

But that, treatment professionals and substance-abuse administrators say, is what meth addiction is. They say it's no different than other illnesses such as heart disease or diabetes that people bring on themselves.

Like mental illness, drug abuse has a stigma that is hard for taxpayers and lawmakers to get past.

"Although treatment, child welfare and, increasingly, criminal justice professionals are generally attuned to the scope of the challenges facing people in recovery, the general public and elected officials who make the funding decisions need to understand that there are no cheap or quick fixes," said Tina Rich, Cornerstone Counseling coordinator for adult substance-abuse treatment programs.

A few years ago, mental health care advocates in a long, hard, hard struggle successfully fought for equal health insurance coverage for mental and physical ailments. Substance abuse, too, must be recognized and treated like a disease, service providers say.

Unless drug abuse is required coverage under health insurance plans, taxpayers will continue to pay for the public treatment system, said Pat Fleming, Salt Lake County substance-abuse services director.

"We need parity in health-care insurance for substance abuse. It's the No. 1 thing to take (the burden) off taxpayers' back," he said.

Treatment or jail?

Karen Williams, Odyssey House women and children's program director, said the state has a "lock them up" attitude when it comes to drug abusers. Dollars, she said, should go to treatment, not incarceration.

Prosecutors like Salt Lake County deputy district attorney Taylor, though, say a little jail time isn't all bad.

"The biggest benefit to incarceration is just the incapacitation to use," she said.