criminal trespass, theft and anger-related behaviour increasing as a result of ice,” said Sergeant Andy Stott, manager of the LSA’s Crime Prevention Section. “Some ice addicts are successful business people, who are destroying their families and businesses as a consequence of their habit. “While addiction affects an individual, the ripples of addiction represent a substantial long-term cost in both financial and emotional terms. This affects community and family wellbeing, placing strains on health and medical services, police and justice systems and substantially impacting on community safety.” Besides chairing the LCDAT, Sergeant Stott is also an integral member of the Substance Misuse Limestone Coast working party, along with representatives from City
of Mount Gambier, University of South Australia, LCDAT and Rotary Club of Mount Gambier West. Established two years ago, the group aims to address the misuse of all drugs across the region through a community based collaborative model and also conduct education programs in schools and for the wider
community. “While many regional communities share this drug problem, strategies for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation require a wholeof-community approach that recognises existing community strengths and weaknesses in infrastructure, human resources and funding
opportunities across both private and government sectors,” he said. “The Limestone Coast region is committed to a collaborative solution that works across agencies to achieve practical, immediate, short-term and longer term solutions.”
Cold hard facts about ice • Methamphetamine typically comes in three different forms – ice, base and speed. Ice is often the purer form, meaning it gives a stronger and longer lasting high. It also gives more potent and serious side effects, both during use and in the ‘comedown’ or ‘crash’ phase after use.
• From 2010 to 2016 among regular methamphetamine users there was a 36 per cent increase in ice and 30 per cent decrease in speed.*
• Ice is a synthetic (man-made) drug which can be processed and cut (diluted) with acetone, lithium, sulphuric acid and other unknown substances.
• Of those who had used methamphetamines (including ice) in the past 12 months, 20.4 per cent used weekly or daily and 10.6 per cent used once a month.*
• Other street names for ice include meth, shard, rock and crystal.
• Compared to other forms of methamphetamine, ice has a greater potential for the user to develop dependence, psychosis, and other long-term physical and mental health problems.
• Ice is often smoked or injected but can also be swallowed or snorted. • Ice is usually sold in points (0.1g) or grams and can be mixed with other substances. This reduces its purity and makes the effects for the user even more unpredictable. • Effects from single use may last for 24-48 hours; effects from longer term use may last up to 18 months.
• One in 70 people have used methamphetamine in the past year.*
• Using ice is illegal, as is possessing, making, selling and importing/exporting ice. • Currently, there are no particular pharmacological treatments for ice addiction. For now, the most effective treatment available is cognitive behaviour therapy. *cracksintheice.org.au/how-many-people-use-ice
• Ice can affect people from all walks of life.
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