Pubdate: Mon, 08 Dec 2008 Source: Salt Lake Tribune (UT) Copyright: 2008 The Salt Lake Tribune Contact: http://www.sltrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/383 Author: Cathy Mckitrick Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) METH USE DOWN SLIGHTLY DUE TO HIGHER COST, NEW LAW Campaign Task Force Disbands But Work Continues Although he was only 4 years old at the time, Taran Kahus remembers Aug. 1, 1999, as the most remarkable day of his life. "It's the day I got my mom back," said Kahus, who is now 13. "There is hope after meth -- recovery is possible. " Featured with his mother, Robin Kahus, in an ad spot about methamphetamine use, the St. George teen seems wise beyond his years. As a toddler, Taran Kahus lived with his grandparents while his mother went through several months of treatment in Salt Lake City. The commercial represents the grand finale of a $2 million End Meth Now campaign produced by Riester, a public relations firm with offices in Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Los Angeles. It aired on local television stations Nov. 3-17 and Dec. 1-15. "He became caretaker," Robin Kahus said of how her toddler son handled her addiction. A similar story plays out across the state, with methamphetamine the clear drug of choice among women between the ages of 18 and 34. "Meth doesn't discriminate -- it plows a trail right through society," Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. told members of the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force who gathered Monday one last time on Capitol Hill before disbanding. Formed in 2006, the diverse task force designed to last two years looked at ways to attack the raging addiction that ravaged families in every part of the state. "It's the supermom syndrome -- the thinking that you've got to do it all," Huntsman said of Utah's pattern of meth use. Even more frightening than moms on meth are junior high students experimenting with the energy-boosting and highly addictive drug. "Some start using it at that age and they become people who spread the addiction," said Dr. Glen Hanson of the Utah Addiction Center. "If you can stop it at that age, you can curtail it in the long run." That's the intent this week at Layton Junior High, where the Davis County school is featuring daily sessions dealing with meth and its ill-effects. Meth use jumped in Utah from 2002 to 2006, but has since declined slightly. Brent Kelsey, assistant director for Utah's Department of Human Services, attributes that fact to meth costing more and becoming more scarce, thanks to a law -- sponsored by Sen. Chris Buttars, R-West Jordan -- that made it hard for stateside meth cooks to purchase all the ingredients. "It's important at any age to talk honestly about substance abuse and the dangers," said Liz Sollis, DHS spokeswoman. "It's important to recognize the signs of abuse and to connect people with resources that can help." For Robin Kahus, that knowledge led to redemption and a second chance. "I was self-medicating because of sexual abuse issues," she said of her lengthy battle with the beast. While she continues to take recovery one day at a time, Robin Kahus is certain of one thing. "Without treatment, I'd be in prison or dead." - -------------------- Signs of possible meth use: hyperactive behavior, mood swings, paranoia, weight loss For more information, log on to www.endmethnow.org . To find help for yourself or a loved one, dial 2-1-1. - --- MAP posted-by: Steve Heath