By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
IT’S a bit of a disaster.
That’s how youth drug and alcohol agency chief Raymond Blessing bluntly describes the widely-described pandemic of ice – otherwise known as crystal methamphetamine.
Mr Blessing, chief executive of Taskforce, says it’s a “huge” problem that creates multiple violence and mental health issues.
It’s causing strain on so many services: hospitals, police, mental health and social support agencies.
“I’m surprised that this is news,” Mr Blessing says.
“This has been around the place for a couple of years.”
The drug’s proliferation was confirmed by the Australian Crime Commission last week.
In its Illicit Drug Data Report, the number of amphetamine-type stimulant arrests jumped by 50.5 per cent to 6762 in Victoria in 2012-’13.
The weight of such substances seized had leapt 219.1 per cent – to 1.85 tonnes – in this state.
Inspector Bruce Kitchen, who commands Greater Dandenong police service area, says ice had come onto local police’s radar as an issue.
“With ice, it becomes an increasing factor in crime from family violence to street assaults.”
Senior Sergeant Martin O’Brien,of Greater Dandenong CIU, however points out that more arrests are a by-product of successful policing, not necessarily of increased drug use.
Mr Blessing says police are “struggling” to curtail the pandemic’s violent side-effects spilling into homes and streets.
The violent crimes stem from the long-term user’s paranoia, he says.
“They have a weapon because they think they’re going to be attacked. Youths are attacking each other, they’re attacking their families.
“It’s much worse than heroin ever was.”
He says a large number of unemployed young people in the Greater Dandenong-Casey-Cardinia region were susceptible to falling into ice use.
“It does take away their pain. It brings new degrees of happiness to their lives at first but then it’s a long-term disaster for them.
“It’s hard to make them decide to give it up because they like using it.
“Anyone can go on the internet and find out how to make it. It’s so easy to access and there’s so much money involved.”
Crime agencies pick up “a few kids”, Mr Blessing says. “But how do you stop the Mr Bigs?
“They’ve got stronger legislation, they’re getting tougher on criminals but the use of ice isn’t decreasing.”
