At just age 12, Taran Kahus is more well versed than many adults about drugs and the negative impact they can have on families.
Taran spent much of his early childhood living from motel to motel and sometimes simply from the family car. His parents were heavy drug users, and by the time Kahus was 2, his father was taken to jail. He eventually got out, but the next day was arrested again and went to prison, where he remains today, Taran said.
By age 3, Taran's mother was "taken away," and he was sent to live with his grandparents, he said.
"I was really scared," he said. "Every night I'd just pray for my mom. They told me she was sick, but I knew she wasn't sick."
A year later, Taran was reunited with his mom, even though she wasn't completely sober at that point and continued to take drugs.
Today, however, Robin Kahus has been sober for five years, which makes her qualified to become the licensed substance abuse counselor she wants to be. Robin Kahus' success story has been told in the media several times. She is even featured in Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s new PSAs from the Utah Methamphetamine Joint Task Force.
Wednesday, however, it was Taran's turn in the spotlight and a chance for him to talk about growing up with two drug-addicted parents. Taran was part of a five-child panel participating in a round table discussion at the fourth annual Drug Endangered Children Conference. The two-day conference ends today.
The objective of the conference is to bring city, state and federal officials together who deal in all aspects of homes where there are children present and one or both of the parents are on drugs.
"Our primary focus is how we can work to keep families together but still have enforcement," said Liz Sollis, with the Utah Department of Human Services.
Substance abuse is a contributing factor in 60 percent of cases involving foster kids in Utah, according to state officials.
Some of the topics discussed during the conference included fetal alcohol syndrome, families in recovery, how to talk to your children about drugs and making efforts to reach the Native American community.
"It's an opportunity for everyone to learn how to work together," Sollis said.
For Taran, he said his year away from his mother, which included not being allowed to see her on his birthday or Christmas, was very difficult. At the time, he said he didn't know his parents were addicted to drugs.
"I knew something was up," Taran said. "I didn't really understand until I was 9 or 10."
Taran said he was always taken care of and never went without food. If his parents got into more trouble than normal, they would send him to his grandparents' house so he would have a place to stay, he said.
Today, Taran said that seems to all be in the past.
"I'm really proud of (my mom). I have hope she won't do it again," he said.
Taran's advice to child protection workers and law enforcement on how to deal with children whose parents are still doing drugs is to remain positive.
"Don't tell them your mom's a bad person. Just tell them your mom will be OK. Don't scare them," he said.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com