Special investigation shows that ice is a problem Australia can’t ignore

9000km, 60 addicts in 25 towns and cities. Read the ice expose that has been hailed as a landmark into our drugs crisis.

WARNING: Graphic content below may upset some readers

Twentyfive towns and cities, 9000km, four weeks, three emergency departments, five rehab centres, 60 tragically addicted ice users, and 12 desperate parents — this is the ice investigation Australia can’t ignore.

News Corp Australia’s special series of reports shows that Australia’s problem with ice is not only real, its threat is potentially only beginning.

It also became clear that despite some towns being branded “the Ice Capital” of Australia, no single place deserves the title. Ice is everywhere.

Shock reality of our ice addiction

Senior reporter Paul Toohey and photographer Gary Ramage spent four weeks on the road, travelling to cities and remote towns from Queensland to Western Australia.

They spoke to ice users, going inside emergency departments and rehab centres to track this drug’s insidious effects on our community.

As days turned to weeks on their journey down the east coast, across to Adelaide, then Perth and Darwin, their journey showed that Australia’s problem with ice is not only real, its threat is potentially only beginning.

‘It’s a complete free-for-all’

AUSTRALIA’S ice epidemic is tearing a swathe through the gay community, with hook-up sites making the spiral into addiction all too easy.

Contact sites such as Grindr and BBRTS operate without regulation as federal authorities admit they need more focus on the online drug activity.

Jay Morris, a recovering addict who from 2012 became a gay escort trading sex for ice, is calling on authorities to shut gay hook-up sites until they enforce better moderation.

“The gay scene is out of control on ice,” Mr Morris said.

“You can watch people shooting up live on camera.”

‘I felt untouchable’

SHE was skinny, pretty and dealing ice — a young Aussie mum whose story shines a spotlight on the warped economics of a big-money monster.

Everyone could see Kader Sakir coming.

That was the idea. She was on ice, and selling it.

In a two-year “meth spree” Sakir lost all feelings for her baby son and went on a wild crime rampage that prompted a judge to label her a menace.

“I didn’t care if I died,” she said.

If you need help or support for a drug-related issue, the Australian Drug Foundation Drug Info page can help.

Originally published as Special investigation shows that ice is a problem Australia can’t ignore