Meth the 'scourge' of SW: police
Augusta police have expressed fears methamphetamine use is becoming a problem in the town, despite reports of low overall usage of the drug in the South West.
Sergeant Rick Lok said meth was "one of the biggest scourges" of the region.
However, Sgt Lok said it was difficult to find anecdotal evidence about the harm from methamphetamine to people and families.
"There are obviously a number of addicts that we don't know about," he said.
Sgt Lok said addicts' families also suffered. "Grandparents end up looking after the kids," he said.
WA Country Health Service media officer Peter Cogan said the incidence of meth-related hospitalisations in the South West was "quite low".
Local general practitioner Sean O'Rourke said he had not seen evidence of meth-related illnesses at the local hospital.
"If people are coming in, I would probably know about it," he said.
Dr O'Rourke said alcohol was a much bigger problem than drugs in the Augusta-Margaret River area. "We don't see a lot of (fly-in, fly-out) guys with obvious issues with methamphetamine," he said.
A WA Police media spokeswoman said data on methamphetamine-related crime in Augusta was not available.
