'Addiction is a disease': Ice scourge destroying Queensland communities

A leading Brisbane drug addiction expert has welcomed the Palaszczuk government's 'ice' initiative, but warns Queensland "can't arrest its way out of the problem".

Last Wednesday, the Premier launched a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the growing scourge of crystal methamphetamine, with a particular focus on regional centres.

"We need to come down hard with the full resources of our law enforcement agencies on the criminal groups producing this drug, be they outlaw motorcycle gangs or international syndicates," the Premier said.

Annastacia Palaszczuk stressed the criminal crackdown was just part of the draft strategy, which already includes $43 million towards frontline treatment services.

Those who man that frontline say rehabilitation is key.

"You cannot out-police addiction," said Mel Symon, a director at Brisbane's Hader Clinic.

"Arresting people and putting people in jail is just one part, it doesn't cure addiction, because addiction is a disease."

The Hader Clinic is a private facility, often the destination for families at their wits' end. By the time they meet Ms Symon, the downward spiral has steepened into a nosedive. And Ice doesn't discriminate.

Ms Symon has helped all sectors of the community, from lawyers to jailbirds.

"I would say 90 per cent of our inquiries are certainly ice-related, and that's a big part of the clientele that we work with," she said.

"It's such an impact on the community, and it has impacts, not just for the individuals that are using - most of them are in denial - it's mostly the families and the community in general."

Regional communities worst affected

Figures from 2015 suggested 200,000 Australians had used ice in the previous 12 months, and one in 14 had tried it at least once. Regional communities suffer worse than most. Last year a study by Flinders University found the number of ice users in rural Australia was double the number of city users.

Once ice permeates a town, it's like an infection which is hard to shake, according to Ms Symon.

"People are bored and using drugs becomes part of what they do in some of those regions," she said.

Often the only way to break small-town addiction, is to pack up and leave.

"Ice is probably at the cheaper end of the scale to afford to purchase compared to heroin and cocaine. Money's tight so sometimes they might do small-time dealing as well," she said.

Cheap. Plentiful. Addictive. Whether smoked, injected or snorted, its effects can last about six hours, and it can take several sleepless days and nights to fully come down.

"Ice has certainly been manufactured over the years to be highly addictive now, so some people only use it once now, and they are addicted. That quickly.

"That's why it's so frightening, because young people today are generally just going straight for ice. As a result of that, we now see a high increase in psychosis."

The state government acknowledges the drug is causing disproportionate harm in regional areas.

"When I travel around Queensland and meet with hardworking child safety officers, they are telling me this is a growing issue," said Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman last week.

"In fact, one in three children coming in to out-of-home care had a parent who was using ice," she said.

Three weeks ago, when community cabinet sat in central Queensland, the Premier heard first-hand from families struggling with the grip of ice.

"Many family members I have spoken to are having to care for their grandchildren on a full-time basis because their addicted children have lost sight of the most basic human instincts, like caring for one's own children," said Ms Palaszczuk.

Queensland's first regional ice summit

In response, the formation of the government's draft plan will start back in central Queensland. Rockhampton will host the first Regional Ice Summit on April 27.

Ms Symon agrees struggling communities like Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Emerald needed support, but there is hope.

"There's always hope when it comes to working with people with addiction," she said.

"It's not a quick process.

"You cannot take an addict whose had a five, 10, 15-year addiction and put them in a 14-day residential detox program and expect that they're going to come out cured. It doesn't work that way.

"The main treatment option is residential rehabilitation programs and these can take up to 12 months," she said.

For the first 30 days, the clients are often in denial, and angry. But slowly, with a structured lifestyle, they can emerge from the addiction.

"We've seen some wonderful success results of people who've come through our programs - and other programs as well - that manage their addiction and live fulfilling lives," Ms Symon said.

'Families want help now'

The Hader Clinic is privately run. Families pay for the rehabilitation programs. Such private schemes can cost $30,000. Many addicts come from families who don't have that kind of money, or the inclination to help. Waiting for a public residential treatment program leaves them in a holding pattern. Too often, Ice is there, waiting to fill in the time.

Most families want help immediately, tired of dealing with a loved one who is unpredictable, irritable - even violent - and increasingly a stranger.

"Families want help now," Ms Symon said.

Last Wednesday, when the Premier spoke into the microphones in front of a crowd of cameras and journalists, there was a sense that real change could come. This was going to dominate the news agenda of the day.

However, within two hours, tripods and cameras were packed into news cars and attention shifted.

The trials of a former swimming champion steamrolled through the day's news cycle. The promising ice initiative which made headlines in the morning, was now less prominent.

The spotlight moved on, but for desperate families, and those who work to help them, the battle goes on.

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