By MELISSA MEEHAN
Government backs anti-ice campaign as police call for more community involvement…
POLICE, health experts and the government are on the right track, according to the government inquiry into the supply and use of methamphetamine in Victoria.
But local police and medical professionals said that while the report is an important piece of the puzzle, without a whole of community approach they can only scratch the surface of the problem.
Dr Matthew Frei from Eastern Health’s Turning Point spoke to the Mail last week and said that there was an expectation from the community that something needed to be done to stop the growing ‘ice epidemic’.
“Many people are affected by the ice problem, whether it be knowing someone who is struggling with addiction or affected by crime linked to drug abuse,” Dr Frei said.
“The report looks at things mainly from a law and order response and, hopefully, there is a flow on from that.
“But it really needs to be a whole of community approach.”
Dr Frei said that education was also important when looking at the issue.
“People don’t start using meth because they want their teeth to fall out, or thinking they have bugs in their brains,” he said.
“It’s for that sense of euphoria – so finding the reasons these people start using these things will help get to the root of the problem.”
The Croydon Divisional Taskforce Unit is Victoria Police’s team focused on the ice problem in the Yarra Ranges, Knox and Maroondah.
Acting Detective Sergeant Mick Duke said getting the community talking about the problem is helping to scratch the surface.
“We’re here administering the law but there needs to be a larger response to the problem,” he said.
“This includes the law, education and health.”
He said the use and production of ice was steadily increasing across the state and that members of the community could do their part.
“If you see something, say something,” Act Sgt Duke said.
“We have a range of ways to gather intelligence but if you see something that doesn’t look right, give us a call and we can investigate.”
The report, released this month, received 78 written submissions, held more than 113 public hearings and heard from 220 witnesses including police and emergency services personnel, hospital and health workers, drug treatment providers, researchers and the families and friends of methamphetamine users.
The committee found that people felt that methamphetamine, particularly crystal methamphetamine (ice), was having damaging effects on sections of their community and that extra support was needed in the areas of health, law enforcement, education and family support.
Among a number of findings, the report recommended that a co-ordinated all of government approach was required to address the issue and that a state committee, to be called the Ministerial Council on Alcohol and Drugs, should be established.
