From Deseret News archives:
State anti-meth campaign hopes to continue success
Revenues remain an unknown factor moving forward, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told members of the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force who gathered at the Capitol for a progress report on the statewide End Meth Now public awareness campaign. Despite revenue shortfalls instigating two sets of cutbacks in nearly every state government agency already, "this effort remains what it has been for four years now in the governor's office — a top priority," Huntsman said.
The reason the campaign can claim success isn't funding, but actions by individuals statewide who have personally committed to giving a helping hand when it's needed.
Several task force members said after the meeting that the central message of offering hope rather than trying to scare people away from meth use such as the campaigns in Arizona and Montana is proving to be the right approach.
Bill Cox, a Rich County commissioner and task force member, said little acts of caring without judging the user create wide ripple effects. "And just little things like a word of support or just helping someone change a tire so they can get to work can be that one thing that makes or breaks someone's recovery."
Cox and others said meth has received substantial notoriety, which in turn affords it a significant fear factor in communities that the campaign is trying to thwart. "Fear can be undone by education about it and by realizing that users are people who have made a mistake — maybe one we wouldn't — but really are looking for a way out."
Robin Kahus, a 34-year-old mom who celebrated her sixth year without smoking meth on Monday, said hope that the addiction can be overcome is the first and a big step. Kahus, who is featured in a current television ad with her 13-year-old son, Taran, said users feel bad enough about what they're living with.
"The fact is it's not really living when you're using. You're not even getting by, no matter how clean your house might be or how well you believe you're keeping up," she said. "You can find all kinds of reasons to blame yourself or others, and meth or any habitual drug use will reinforce those thoughts that keep you down. But the most powerful thing about meth or anything is how much power the user gives it."
Her son, who later spoke to students at North Layton Junior High School, said just like users are embarrassed and scared to seek help, "kids a lot of times feel like they're the only one with a mom or dad doing this. It's sad, but also good in a way, that there are a lot of us, and a lot of us are there to help."
When his mother was using, Taran said, he didn't feel neglected "like a lot of kids say. The house was a lot cleaner then, but my mom wasn't really my mom. I worried about her a lot then, and I don't now."
E-mail: jthalman@desnews.com
