Woman shares her story to give meth addicts hope

The story of Robin Kahus and her son, Taran, has become an inspiration to many mothers trying to win their battle against meth addiction.

But Kahus admits it wasn't a tale she was initially eager to share.

"When I first started telling my story, I was really, really ashamed by it," she said Monday.

But after her story became public, other women approached Kahus and said that her experiences gave them hope for themselves or family members they knew who were addicted to meth. Today, Kahus said she will continue telling her story as long as people still want to hear it so she can give a voice to women who have drug addictions and are in recovery.

Kahus was one of the featured speakers this week at the 2008 National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference being held at Salt Lake's Radisson Hotel.

A full capacity of 500 people from 32 states and Canada registered for this year's conference, which focuses on the latest research and best strategies for helping children who are living in drug houses or whose parents are addicted to drugs.

Kahus, from St. George, was 13 when she began using marijuana and drinking alcohol. By 18, she started doing meth. At age 21, she gave birth to Taran.

For 11 years, Kahus said she was a drug addict. She was involved in the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine as well as being a user. At one point, both she and Taran were homeless and living from motel to motel or simply in their car. When Taran was 2, his father was sent to prison on a drug-related conviction. One night when the police came to the hotel room where Taran and his mother were staying, Kahus was in the process of forging checks.

Robin Kahus eventually had her parents take Taran while she tried to sort out her life. But rehab did not come easy. Kahus had to wait months to get into a treatment facility. But even after treatment and after she was reunited with her son, she relapsed.

Today, however, Kahus has been clean for six years. She is a licensed substance-abuse counselor, works with the drug court in Southern Utah and has appeared on public service announcements from the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force telling her story.

Taran, 13, who lives with his mom again, also has been featured in an ad and will have a new PSA unveiled at the conference this week. Taran will be on a panel to talk with other children about growing up in a home with drug addictions.

Kahus calls her son "a gift from God."

Kahus said the best advice she can give families is to stop enabling meth addicts.

"Stop buying food for them. Stop giving them money," she said. "If you're paying for their food, you're paying for their drugs."