Tony Abbott announces the Govt’s strikeforce action against the drug ‘Ice’.
ICE USERS are oblivious to the potency, harmful and potentially deadly effects of the drug because they perceive it as “pure and safe”, a leading drug and alcohol expert says.
Drug and Alcohol Services SA director of clinical services Dr Robert Ali said on Wednesday that the nation’s ice epidemic was concerning.
While he said the number of South Australians using methamphetamine had not increased, the way people were using the drug was changing.
“I believe it’s been part of the lifestyle choices people have made — it’s a stimulant which has alluring properties of improving performance, keeping you awake, alert and feeling as if you’re much more connected to your world,” he said.
“(Ice) used to be thought of as only for fun but we’re now seeing people using it for work enhancement … hence why the Commonwealth Government is deciding to take action on this issue.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott flanked by Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash while inspecting approximately 50kg of the drug ICE during a press conference in Sydney. Picture: AAP / Nikki Short
The Federal Government announced a new National Ice Taskforce on Wednesday aimed to tackle the growing health and social crisis.
Dr Ali said people perceived ice as a “pure and safe drug”.
“In fact its potency is much higher and the risks and harms are much greater,” he said.
“The downside (of using ice) is you are running on empty if you continue to use it — you’ve lost all your reserve and your body takes a long time to recover.
“Then you’re in that cycle where the only way you can recover is to continue to use the drug.”
Dr Ali said the rising ice problem should be tackled from a community level.
“Education is an important initiative but we also need supply reduction as well,” he said.
“It’s important that we do keep a focus on illict drugs.
“The detail (of the taskforce) is still to be worked through — we’ll still wait to see what that outcome is.”
Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Wednesday conveyed his personal concerns over the rising number of Australians using ice and its wide-ranging consequences.
“I am appalled at what is happening on our streets and in our homes,” he said.
“The propensity for violence, the propensity to subsequent very serious mental illness, the propensity to disfigurement which ice produces means that this is a drug epidemic way beyond anything that we have seen before now.
“(Ice) is far more addictive than any previous drug … it’s worse than heroin, it’s worse than cocaine, it’s worse than LSD, it’s worse than ecstasy.”
Mr Abbott said latest statistics revealed about 400,000 Australians have used methamphetamine in the last year and about 50 per cent of those use crystal meth or ice.
“We must constantly be ramping up the struggle against illict drugs, particularly against ice, because of the devastation — the absolute devastation — that ice is wreaking on individuals, on families and communities,” he said.
Ice not “pure and safe” like many users believe, SA drug expert says
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