Utah Meth Campaign Stresses Intervention, Not Effects
January 7th, 2007 Posted by: Dr. Cox
Utah’s new anti-methampetamine public-awareness campaign calls on the friends and family members of users to help them overcome their addiction, the Deseret Morning News reported Sept. 24.
That’s a departure from typical campaigns against the drug, which often focus on “meth mouth” and other gruesome effects that the drug can have on users.
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. unveiled the $2-million End Meth Now campaign this week. “The first step to overcoming this devastating drug is for citizens to become aware of the increasing toll methamphetamine is taking on life in Utah,” Huntsman said. “Meth use harms all Utah citizens, regardless of whether they have fallen prey to addiction or if they fall within the circle of influence of someone who is using. Families, children, parents, businesses, neighborhood and indeed entire communities are impacted.”
Huntsman noted that young mothers are among the most common users of meth, and the campaign aims to break down stereotypes about those who use the drug and to let friends and family know that their loved ones can recover from meth addiction.
Huntsman spoke of meth users “who are good mothers but who have a ball and chain and some of whom fall into what they call a deep, dark abyss of addiction.” He argued that preventing and treating meth users made more sense than jailing them.