According to the report, about 100,000 Australians of all ages have used methamphetamines in the last week, and more than 500,000 have used the drug in the last year.
“These figures are alarming. They clearly tell us that we need to tackle the growing popularity of methamphetamines like ICE, speed and crystal meth now, especially if we are going to prevent these figures from getting worse” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“ICE is relatively cheap to buy on the street, highly addictive, and increasing popular as a party drug” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“For this reason, ICE and other methamphetamines have the potential to become a real problem in Calwell and in other parts of Australia” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Our response needs to be tough, targeted and evidence-based” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“Federal Labor has proposed a number of new measures to tackle the growing problem of ICE, measures that I strongly support” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Federal Labor will:
Work to ban the importation of ice pipes and other drug paraphernalia under the Customs Act. (At present there is no such ban.)
Work with State and Territory governments to make it a criminal act to sell pseudoephedrine to minors. (Pseudoephedrine is a major ingredient in speed and ice.)
Work to restrict or ban the sale of pseudoephedrine over the internet and other controls;
Extend the special reference to the Australian Crime Commission on Amphetamines and other Synthetic Drugs (AOSD) which expired on December 31, 2006 to conduct a national full-scale investigation into the criminals engaged in the manufacture of ICE, the sale of ICE and the use of ICE; and
Tailor existing national education programs on illicit drug use – targeting young people and ICE.
“The spread of illicit drug use only serves to increase crime rates, destroy families and it places added pressure on our police forces and health care providers” Ms Vamvakinou said.
"ICE destroys the lives of those young people who end up addicted to it, and it robs them of their future."
“There are enormous health risks associated with using ICE, and legitimate concerns among the wider community about the anti-social behaviour it can lead to.”
“The Federal Government must take a stronger, more active role in combating the growing popularity of ICE and other illicit drugs.”
“The Federal Government has a responsibility to identify a problem like ICE that has the potential to spiral out of control, and to then take the steps needed to prevent such a problem from getting worse. It’s failure to acknowledge the problem of ICE, let alone prepare a comprehensive long-term plan to tackle its growing popularity and availability, means that the situation in Australia will only get worse."
"If government encourages young people to make the most out of their lives, it also has a responsibility to tackle the dangers of a drug like ICE that robs young people of their future."
Additional Information:
- As of January 1, 2006, pseudoephedrine was scheduled as “Pharmacist Only Medicines – Schedule 3” – meaning every transaction involving the sale of pseudoephedrine to the public must be recorded and identification provided. They are also kept behind the counter.
- The Pharmacy Guild of Australia has come out in support of Labor's tough stance on the sale of Pseudoephedrine:
Contact: Alex Kouttab
