Ice costs soar – but that doesn’t help crime in these SA towns

Rising inflation and supply chain issues aren’t just for legitimate businesses – they’re also affecting the bottom line of SA’s ice dealers.

Global economic stress and Australia’s biggest-ever organised crime bust have increased the financial pressure upon drug dealers, causing the price of the lethal drug ice to rise.

However, the Law Society of SA’s criminal law committee says the cost of meth has done nothing to lessen its use – nor the strain it places on the justice system.

Committee co-chair Craig Caldicott said meth – once cheaper than alcohol in some country towns – presented “an ever-worsening problem” for the state.

“The country towns appear to have the worst of it,” he said.

“Police have dented the ice supply chain through arrests such as those in Operation Ironside but, when one supply is stopped, another appears.

“The question is whether the AN0M arrests have actually curtailed drug supply within Australia or if other groups have stepped into the vacuum … I suspect the latter.”

In 2019, The Advertiser revealed ice was increasing in potency and decreasing in price in SA, with doses of more than 50 per cent purity costing less than alcohol.

At that time, the Society identified the Eyre Peninsula, the Riverland, Barossa Valley and Limestone Coast as the most ice-ridden regions.

Law Society of SA’s criminal law committee co-chair Craig Caldicott. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

This week, Mr Caldicott said only the price of ice had changed, not the impact it had upon people in those areas.

“We clearly don’t have enough rehabilitation centres, doctors or support persons for people who require assistance to kick the habit,” he said.

“More needs to be done in this area, particularly in terms of resourcing and funding.”

Mr Caldicott said the courts had become “burdened” with criminal cases arising from the use of meth.

He said many of those, which did not involve allegations of violence against another person, benefited from being transferred to the Treatment Intervention Court.

Offenders are deemed eligible for the program if they have pleaded guilty, have a suitable bail address and are willing to engage in treatment, counselling and drug testing.

The offender’s sentencing is deferred for either six or 12 months and, when penalty is imposed, their rehabilitative progress is a factor in their final sentence.

“Meth cases place a great strain on the system … they are a burden that impact all aspects of the system,” he said.

“There needs to be more referrals to drug diversion programs in order to help these people – imposing harsher and harsher sentences does not appear to be working.”