Others, like Jesse Logan, former director of operations at Safe and Sober Living of Utah in Sandy, believe that despite the disease, relapses must carry consequences.

"When you use drugs, basically that's a ticking time bomb," he said. "If you're caught (dirty) ... you gotta go," he said. "(Owners) have to keep the community safe. That's their job."

After two years of running a sober living home in Sandy, Logan shut down in June, saying he was too emotionally drained from clients taking advantage of him.

Other providers agree with Logan.

"Our clients appreciate and understand the fact that when you're in our system ... (we) have a zero-tolerance policy," said Jake Shoff, director of operations for the Makin Homes, two private residential transitional-care facilities in Orem, similar to sober living homes. "This is going to be a safe environment from start to finish."

Justin and Jen Makin, who own the two centers, the Joshua and Steele Houses, say if they don't take relapses seriously, others get hurt.

"We have started these facilities to help people regain their lives," Jen Makin said. "People are dying from this."

Richard Nance knows that all too well.

As director of the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse he hears about clients who never come back from relapses. To avoid that, he wants treatment for everyone, especially those who slip the most.

"'We care about your recovery,'" Nance tells clients. "'We're not going to kick you out into the dark of night because you're sick. But we'll do our best to fix you up and get you back to where you belong.'"

E-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com