Huntsman makes tackling meth epidemic a top priority

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and his wife have made friends with the people in their neighborhood, including some hooked on methamphetamine.

A residential treatment center called House of Hope is a couple of doors down from the Governor's Mansion on South Temple. Their neighbors are moms who are trying to fight meth addiction, said Mike Mower, the governor's spokesman.

The Huntsmans visited women in the house and Mary Kaye Huntsman had them over for a tea party.

"The governor realizes the insidious nature of meth use and its disproportionate use among young women, often young mothers," Mower said.

To turn that tide, Huntsman's proposed state budget includes $5.1 million a year (half from Medicaid) to place 600 more women in treatment programs, giving priority to those involved with the Utah Division of Child and Family Services.

Furthermore, Huntsman recommends $2 million for a statewide meth awareness campaign. He puts the initiative on par with his request for dollars to fund a Western states primary and a future 4th Congressional District election.

"It's a very top priority," Mower said.

The Utah Joint Methamphetamine Task Force would adapt the campaign from several prevention programs including the gritty Montana Meth Project, which uses Web sites and print, radio and black-and-white television ads featuring meth addicts telling their personal stories.

"It's hard to look at, and it's hard to look away," said Lisa-Michele Church, Utah Department of Human Services executive director.

Women of child-bearing and child-rearing years would be the initial focus of the ads. Treatment admissions for women have risen a 170 percent the past 15 years, said Brent Kelsey, state Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health assistant director. Admissions for men have declined 5 percent in the same period.

Currently, 80 percent of people in meth rehab are women. About two-thirds of them have children. Many turn to the highly addictive drug to boost their energy and lose weight, calling it the "Jenny Crank" program.

"For every slot we have, there are four women waiting in line," said Kelsey, who is also a member of the governor's meth task force.

Some of the new money would be used to build residential treatment centers like House of Hope in southern and northern Utah where resources are scarce, he said.