Utah's Methamphetamine Task Force has launched another phase of its educational efforts with new television and radio ads and outdoor billboards. Tonight, Eyewitness News has the story of another young couple helping to promote that campaign because of personal experience with meth users.
In September, Gov. Jon Huntsman, the Utah Association of Counties and the Utah Meth Joint Task Force launched the "End Meth Now" campaign. Phase II targets family members and friends who are worried that someone close to them is using meth.
In one of the new television ads, old home movies and Sarah McLachlan's tender words strike a chord with many Utah families whose loved ones are addicted to methamphetamine. Lance and Haley Snider understand only too well. More than one family member suffers with this addiction.
"I've seen firsthand how it rips apart their marriage, their kids have been taken away, how it affects my personal family, and I sit there thinking, ‘What do you do?'" Haley said.
What they did was call "End Meth Now" and offer free space on their advertising truck. Their message is: If it's personal for us, it's personal for many of you.
"When you don't know anybody, you just kind of assume, ‘Oh, drug users. They're just somebody out there who's just a drug user.' When it's a family member, it's so completely different. This is somebody that you love and care about," Lance explained.
The new ads, Lance says, made them cry. The Sniders and their extended family find fighting drug abuse very painful. "You can't even imagine. It's such a feeling of helplessness. You don't know what to do, and people become so different when they're on meth," Haley said.
The Sniders say you might not realize it, but meth use and the consequences of it affect every citizen in the state. "The average taxpayer may not understand how much of their tax dollars are going towards [it]. I mean, they're paying for these children being put in foster homes, for the drug users themselves being in jail, being in rehab," Haley said.
Haley says this ad speaks the truth: Her family members do have her, her love and support.
The Sniders say, get involved. If you are worried about a loved one, get some advice by calling 211 or logon to endmethnow.org.
© UtahMovingAds.com 2007 
Couple helping to fight meth addiction
"When you don't know anybody, you just kind of assume, ‘Oh, drug users. They're just somebody out there who's just a drug user.' When it's a family member, it's so completely different. This is somebody that you love and care about," Lance explained.