Debate rages over depth of Tasmania's ice problem

Tasmania's peak body for drug treatment denies the use of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, is increasing dramatically, despite one charity insisting there is an alarming rise and lawyers attributing most property crimes to the drug.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council CEO Jann Smith told 936 ABC Hobart that current data did not show a dramatic increase in methamphetamine use.

"We're seeing a change in the type of amphetamine that people are using, so that form - namely ice - that's increasing and we're also seeing some increases in frequency which means that we're seeing some increase in harm," she said.

But Rural Health Tasmania CEO Robert Waterman claimed he had seen a ten-fold increase in clients affected by ice in the state's north-west.

Mr Waterman warned that Tasmania was ill-prepared to deal with a rapidly growing ice problem and was at risk of being caught off guard.

He said in the small north-west town of Smithton up to one in 10 people were addicted to the drug.

Circular Head mayor Daryl Quilliam argued the number of ice addicts in Smithton was closer to 5 per cent but agreed the community had a major problem on its hands.

"Well, I was told that there's supposed to be around 400 people supposed to be here and we've got 8,500, so it's probably more 5 per cent, but that is still far too high and there's still a major problem," he said.

Brett Whiteley, the Federal Liberal Member for Braddon, played down the extent of the problem in his electorate and was disappointed it was singled out in two ABC programs: Four Corners and Lateline.

"We know that there is a problem and we know that we must come together to try to solve the problem, but ice is no more an issue in Tasmania, on the north-west of Tasmania, than it is for Victoria or New South Wales," he said.

"This is both a community problem and a national problem."

While views differed on whether ice use in the state and the north west was a problem, a crisis or an epidemic, most agreed effective action was needed urgently.

A forum on methamphetamine use will be held on October 31 at the Circular Head Community and Recreation Centre and Health Minister Michael Ferguson announced there would be a review of services available on the north-west coast.

The Spirit is not the main ice gateway, police say

As to where the drug was coming from, Tasmania Police rejected claims the Spirit of Tasmania was being used to smuggle the drug into the state.

But they said the quantity of ice coming into Tasmania was growing and most of it was being imported.

Assistant Commissioner Donna Adams said police had only discovered a few clandestine drugs labs in the state in the past two years and none of them could manufacture the drug.

She said the drugs were arriving via the post and airports.

"We've had some very minor seizures at the Spirit, [but] not to the level that we've seen through the mail and at the airport.

"Our intelligence working with Vic Pol doesn't indicate that the Spirit is the major problem and source of drugs into this state," she said.

Commissioner Adams said outlaw motorcycle gangs were running the ice trade and police had to find new ways to thwart them.

"We're going to continue to work for the long haul," she said.

"We've got some strong relationships with the tax office, customs and the ACCC, and I think it's important that we continue to explore non-traditional policing responses to ensure that we disrupt and dismantle these particular gangs."

She said police were targeting bikie clubhouses to limit the contact between gang members and young people.

"We will continue to object to liquor permits that are being sought by these outlaw motorcycle gangs because we believe these are opportunities for these gang members to make relationships with young people in the community which can often lead to very bad outcomes."

Most property crimes related to ice, Law Society says

Meanwhile, Tasmanian lawyer were concerned about a rise in drug-related crime in the north-west and possible cuts to a treatment program for offenders.

Law Society president Matthew Verney said the vast majority of property crimes in the state were committed by people addicted to drugs.

He said anecdotal evidence suggested as much as 80 per cent of property crime, including burglaries and theft, was connected to drug use.

"Of that, from what I'm told, as high as perhaps 90 per cent of that figure is related to ice or amphetamines," he said.

Mr Verney said that was an increase on five to 10 years ago and added to the concern that cuts may be made to a successful drug program for offenders.

The Court Mandated Drug Diversion Program provided an alternative to prison for some offenders.

Mr Verney feared the program would be a casualty of impending funding cuts.

"The Justice Department has been told it has to save a great deal of money, so it's safe to assume that that [the program] is on the chopping block as well," he said.

The Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin said the Government was committed to the federally funded program.

"We support and are committed to the Court Mandated Drug Diversion Program," she said.

"Since becoming Attorney-General, I have held discussions with the Department of Justice to ensure they are looking at ways to better record and assess the effectiveness of the CMD program."