GILMORE MP Ann Sudmalis has welcomed the Australian Crime Commission report highlighting the increasing availability of crystal methylamphetamine.

“We know this insidious drug is a problem, especially in our local area and this report highlights that,” she said.

The report, The Australian Methylamphetamine Market: the national picture, provides an unclassified intelligence picture of the Australian methylamphetamine market, including the increasing availability of crystal methylamphetamine (ice), particularly in regional areas, and the involvement of serious and organised crime.

Mrs Sudmalis, who hosted an ice forum in Nowra in November, said the report had finally officially shed light on the problem.

“It shows it is not just some of us saying it is a problem,” she said.

“There is proof now it is a problem, and something needs to be done about it.

“The report stated the prevalence of ice is even more so in regional areas.”

She said the report meant there would be more investigations, more security work, more awareness and more work in local communities.

Mrs Sudmalis said since the forum a parent support group had been established by Maxine Meech which meets fortnightly on Monday nights and a work for the dole initiative through Mission Employment had started to produce a booklet highlighting the dangers of ice.

“It is important that everyone, all forms of government, police, the community, the media, everyone gets behind the effort to put a stop to this drug being part of our community,” she said.

“This is beyond any one person, we all need to work together.

“The police are aware of the problem and have been working quietly behind the scenes on a number of investigations.

“One thing that came out of my meetings with local school captains was they needed help and guidance in trying to help their friends to say no to ice.

“We will look at providing some sort of help or training so they can empower their friends to be able to say no.

“This is something we really want to try and push.

“I understand at the moment the price of ice is quite reduced so there is a greater temptation to try it.

“We need to provide the education to our children that ice is not a trialable drug, it is so highly addictive and not something to mess around with.”

Mrs Sudmalis plans to hold a number of youth orientated “pizza parliaments” where she will invite the youth of the area to get together and discuss issues.

“I want to hold a number of meetings in the electorate to discuss the use of ice and how we as a community can tackle the problem,” she said.

“The current youth are the ones at risk of this drug and I want to hear their thoughts and ideas on how we should tackle it and what we should be doing.

“We don’t have all the answers, the young people are the ones who will be impacted by this drug and we need to protect them.”

Mrs Sudmalis said she was still trying to gain extra funding for operations such as the Triple Care Farm at the Southern Highlands which deals with substance rehabilitation.

“People say they want a rehab centre built in the Shoalhaven but from talking to a few groups the information I’m getting is it is actually better to get anyone suffering from a dependency away from their area, away from temptations, away from those who may be supplying the drug,” she said.

Realising you are not alone is empowering

THE Shoalhaven Family Drug Support Group meets fortnightly on a Monday evening at the Nowra Neighbourhood Centre in Kinghorne Street, Nowra from 7.30pm.

Group co-ordinator Maxine Meech said it was about empowering people who were dealing with someone addicted to ice.

“They also realise they are not alone. There is support out there for parents, relatives, friends or carers of people dealing with someone who is on the drug.”

The group has had a number of guest speakers including drug and alcohol counsellors, youth psychologists and even a recovered ice addict.

Ms Meech said there were moves to establish other groups within the Shoalhaven.

To attend the group you must be dealing with a friend, family member or relative with addictions or be a carer of someone with addictions.

For further information, contact Maxine Meech on 0409 176 625.