A 'Promise' for meth users

Spanish Fork facility lets women bring kids along

SPANISH FORK — A new center was dedicated Wednesday to battle what a Utah County commissioner said is the biggest scourge facing the county: methamphetamine addiction.

Members of the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse along with County Commissioners Steve White and Gary Anderson, Spanish Fork Mayor Joe Thomas and Utah Rep. Michael Morley, R-Spanish Fork, attended an open house for the South County Promise of Women and Families Treatment Center.

The center provides therapy for women suffering from substance abuse problems who have children in their care. The new facility in Spanish Fork, along with the Promise of Women and Families Program in Orem and the House of Hope in Provo, allows women to bring their children with them to their appointments. The center incorporated rocking chairs and children's rooms along with the treatment rooms for the women.

About 64 percent of meth users are women, most with dependent children, Morley said during the dedication.

"This drug is a wrecker of lives, a wrecker of families," he said. "It's a destroyer."

Utah County has three times the problem with meth compared with the rest of the country, said Richard Nance, director of the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse, in an interview with the Deseret Morning News.

Tiffany Berg, Mrs. Utah United States, attended the dedication and told her story of alcoholism and meth addiction. She received treatment eight years ago and encourages all addicted to receive help.

"The face of addiction right now is moms," she said. "(Recovery) is possible."

Anderson said the war against meth is one that can be won even though it is pernicious.

"Methamphetamine is the worst scourge we've ever had, period," he said.

He also said there is hope for those who are addicted because of the work done by Nance and the other staff.

Program directors and therapists Vickie Jaussi, Laurie Bailey, Somerset Smith and Susan Howe were honored for their work to get the facility ready so quickly and for the work they've done in the other facilities.

County commissioners signed a proclamation during their weekly meeting Tuesday in support of Methamphetamine Awareness Day on Friday.

The new treatment center in Spanish Fork opened in conjunction with the awareness day and will help women who wouldn't otherwise receive the treatment they need, officials said.

"Research and practical experience shows that women with children at home won't enter treatment or stay if they have to worry about who will take care of their kids while they get help for themselves," Nance said at the meeting Tuesday.

Anderson said at the meeting that substance abuse treatment is the most important work that happens in the county.

"Richard, good work and bless your heart," he said.

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E-mail: csmith@desnews.com

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