"At any one time we have about 2,000 Utah children in foster care. Most will eventually go home after we've worked with their family. A few won't. But for now they need somewhere to stay. For people who are thinking about what to do, one option is to become a licensed foster parent." Call Utah Foster Care Foundation, call 1-877-505-KIDS (5437). — Carol Sisco, spokeswoman, Utah Division of Child and Family Services

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"This was a very touching story. I have a son and daughter-in-law that went through the Odyssey House program and both graduated. Things have been somewhat rocky off and on for them since they graduated. Both relapsed but are now doing well again. The tools that they learned while in Odyssey House were so valuable. I still see them use the tools on a daily basis with their children. Odyssey is a very tough program to get through. I believe it saves lives.

"Meth is an epidemic in our state. Citizens of Utah probably need to have this kind of story written to understand the scope of the drug and its abuse. We seem to live in a state where many citizens think that meth will never happen to them or their families. It is time to open our eyes." — Stacie Parker, Draper

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"I got clean because of fear. I could see that I was either going to die or get arrested. I joined Narcotics Anonymous and I attend meetings. I learned never to pick up a drug. I avoid anything or anyone that was a 'trigger' for me.

"My family did not do what many families do and enable me. They showed tough love. My sister told me that I would never be able to see my niece and nephew again if I ever used because she didn't want them (they were very young at the time) to get to know an uncle who would eventually end up in prison. I got lucky.

"Meth use can strike anyone. I have a master's degree and am a successful manager for a telecommunications company. I have my own home, etc. Do not assume that it is the street person or the low-income citizen who uses meth." — Brad Jackson

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"Stories of the horrible price meth exacts from our citizens and society never fail to sadden me. Epidemic? Oh, yeah. The love of a child motivated me to get clean 32 months ago (I'm a 47 yr/old male), and I'm happy to tell you that his 42 yr/old mother is one year clean today." — Dean Hamper

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"I have been a juvenile probation officer for six years. Within this time there has been a HUGE increase of meth among families. Six years ago it was mainly among parents. Now, it's pretty common to have 12-, 13- or 14-year-old addicts. Its use used to be pretty undercover, but now (parole and probation officers) routinely go into homes where crack pipes are on the living room coffee table.