THE news that ice was responsible for the death of popular local fund-raiser and father Scott Morrison is yet another illustration of how this drug is spreading its tentacles through the Shoalhaven community.
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One of the parents who spoke to the Register about her family’s battle against ice is pleading for greater powers for the police to keep addicts off the road.
In Victoria, police were recently given $4.5 million to double the number of roadside drug tests, with their police minister Kim Wells saying 26 per cent of all road deaths last year involved people who tested positive for drugs.
The local mother, who lives in fear her son will be in a car accident or be responsible for taking someone else’s life in a crash, wants NSW to up the ante as well.
“I want the police to be able to identify young addicts and get them off the roads,” she said.
“I don’t want to blame the police for lack of action, it is a system failure.”
She said in Victoria police had tested hundreds of drivers for methamphetamine.
“Why is this not happening in NSW? How many more high-speed car chases, break and enters, people held at gunpoint, people held at knifepoint, home invasions, domestic violence or youth suicides do we need to read about before action takes place?
“Soon we will be reading about the older person bashed to death during a home invasion, a service station attendant shot dead during a robbery, a family killed by a driver under the influence of methamphetamine.
“We need to take the first step, as in Victoria, and commence regular drug testing on our roads now. Today.
“At least this would see young people appearing before a magistrate and this just might be the reason a young person seeks help for their destructive addiction.
“Our local, state and federal politicians, NSW police along with drug and alcohol services need to unite in the battle against ice in our community and facilitate roadside testing for this demoralising drug.
“We need every police vehicle in the Shoalhaven to be equipped with the saliva analysis kits and to start roadside testing today.
“Otherwise the escalating crime rate will devastate our community and we will lose a generation of beautiful young citizens to this sickening scourge.”
Fairfax newspapers across regional Australia are running a national campaign, Breaking The Ice, and have created a place on local websites collating stories, information and where to turn for help. Read more stories about ice at www.southcoastregister.com.au/news/breaking-the-ice/
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