The children are on state financial assistance.

State Medicaid officials don't track costs specific to individual drugs of choice. But anecdotally, officials say, there is an associated increase in health-care spending on meth abusers and their families.

"It's such a huge drain on our community economically," Carver said.

The financial costs of methamphetamine abuse in Utah are staggering and cross into every state agency, Carver says.

There are impacts to the welfare system. There are health issues, incarceration issues, court issues.

"So, teaching children to brush their teeth and making sure they do — these are some of those basic things that go by the wayside when you are spending all your money on drugs," Carver said.

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