Ex-addict now knows life without drugs

For more than three decades, an epidemic has been surging across America, affecting individuals, families and society as a whole. The culprit is methamphetamines, and Utah is not exempt from this devastation.

An alarming fact is that meth appears to be the drug of choice among women in Salt Lake County who use and abuse illegal drugs. Of even greater concern is that two-thirds of these women have young, dependent children. Jordan Carter (not her real name) is one of those women who still feel the effect of her meth use and its impact on her family.

Born into a family of substance abusers, using marijuana and cocaine was part of life. However, while attending a party at age 24, Carter thought she was taking a hit of cocaine but later discovered it to be meth. This became her drug of choice due to economics and the ease at which she could obtain the drug.

"Meth took me down very quickly. In a year's time I lost my business, marriage, house and son," she said. At first Carter was able to work, maintain her family responsibilities and take care of her child. However, her child soon became second to her use of meth.

During the process of her divorce, the state uncovered her meth use and stripped her of her parental rights. Still, her meth use continued and brought her into a very violent relationship. Meth use can place a person on edge and escalate ensuing violence. Carter stayed in this relationship, as it was her connection to her drug of choice, meth.

Once her boyfriend was busted for cooking meth, Carter took the opportunity to clean up her life. She found a stable job and a comfortable living environment. But the cycle of meth is difficult to break out of. She got pregnant while using meth and was very strung out at the time. Once again, she had no place to stay.

Prior to the birth of her daughter, she cleaned up her life enough to once again find a stable job and place to live. She was able to keep her daughter, as meth was not found in her newborn child. However, she was not able to remain sober for long and her life began to spiral downward. Her job was taken from her once again, as well as her young daughter.

After having her second child taken from her, Carter entered treatment with her only goal being to get her daughter back. She had no intention of quitting but rather making it through the program, getting her daughter back and continuing the life she knew. "Recovery snuck up on me," she said. "I finally began to recover from the violence and abuse that had taught me I wasn't worth anything. I was really looking forward to my life sober."