“Reversing the growing usage of ICE in certain parts of Australia requires tackling the problem at a number of different levels” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Firstly, there needs to be a broader recognition, especially among the ranks of the federal government, that there is a problem, and there needs to be the political will to tackle it.”
“To be effective, efforts to tackle the problem of drug usage, not just with regards to ICE but also in relation to other drugs, necessarily need to include an effective education campaign highlighting the many health risks associated with drug usage, especially the relationship between drugs and the onset of mental illness and anti-social behaviour. We also need to make sure that there are adequate community services out there to help those who already have an addiction.”
“For example, I would support relaunching the successful anti-drugs advertising campaign that we saw a year or two ago. ICE can destroy a young life and it can also destroy families. Young people and their parents need to know about both the availability and the effects of ICE.”
“Curbing the drug also rests on the success of policing and how well the authorities are able to limit the availability of the drug by shutting down its supply routes.”
“It is clear that young people are most at risk, and this will continue to be the case as long as ICE is readily available and naively seen as a weekend party drug”
“Of particular concern is the relationship between drug use and the onset of mental illness.”
“There is growing evidence that a disturbing link exists between drug use and the onset of mental illness. ICE is one such drug linked to mental illness. Another is Cannabis, which is much more widely used.”
"In Calwell, the reality is that alcohol abuse and cannabis are still responsible for the vast majority of drug related problems in the area. Both are far more entrenched, and much more widely used than ICE is."
“Alongside the individual health risks, one of the dangers of drug dependency is that individuals resort to crime as a way to pay for their addiction, or they resort to anti-social behaviour. ICE is no different in this sense, except that its effects seem far more dramatic.”
“ICE use is a problem in other parts of the world, like Europe and the US, and as the report suggests, it is now a problem in Australia as well.”
“As in the past, I will continue to speak out on this issue.”
Contact Alex Kouttab 0417 541 465
