Calls for radical rethink on ice as methylamphetamine use hits epidemic proportions in Sydney

AS ice use hits epidemic levels, frontline workers are calling on politicians to be brave and consider more radical options such as decriminalisation.

Is decriminalising ice the answer?

ICE use has hit epidemic levels in Sydney with police and politicians scrambling for answers.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched a national taskforce to tackle the escalating drug problem, which he says is tearing apart communities across the country.

Frontline child services worker Matt Noffs agrees and on the eve of Mr Abbott’s announcement has called for a radical rethink about how Australia is dealing with the methylamphetamine.

The CEO of the Ted Noffs Foundation says it’s time for a robust discussion on decriminalisation and regulation of the deadly drug.

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He has the backing of Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Dr Alex Wodak, who sees the horrific consequences of the ice epidemic everyday at St Vincent’s Hospital.

However, newly named Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton said she would consider strengthening laws to punish repeat offenders of violent drug crimes.

So is it time for a major shift in drug policy or tougher penalties? Tell us what you think below

MATT NOFFS:

Matt Noffs says a methadone-style program for ice abuse could be a game changer. Picture: Craig Wilson.

AT FIRST glance it might sound crazy, but Matt Noffs thinks his plan to tackle ice might just work.

Chief executive officer child services group, the Ted Noffs Foundation, has called for the government to decriminalise and regulate the drug ice.

His plan would have the state hire chemists to create their own pure form of ice and administer it to addicts in a safe place.

The suggestion comes after the Courier exposed the shocking grip the drug is having on teenagers as young as 14 in the eastern suburbs.

Last week Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione told The Daily Telegraph more policy work was needed to aid police, prompting Mr Noffs’ calls.

“You have a police commissioner in the job saying that police can’t do it themselves, that’s historic,” he said.

Police commissioner Andrew Scipione called for better policy surrounding ice.

Mr Noffs has called for a plan similar to the methadone program, which helped break the stranglehold of heroin.

“Right now, you get ice for about $50-60 a point. But the government could make and manufacture this stuff for $5 a point,” Mr Noffs said.

Under the plan, ice could be bought and administered at a safe centre similar to the Kings Cross injecting room.

Ice users would have fill out a form to get the drug, meaning health experts have a record of users.

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Mr Noffs said creating ice cheaply would help kill the black market.

“The reason we were able to get in front of heroin is because we were brave enough to think of something as crazy as saying we are going to help someone inject heroin, and you can tell everyone’s response to that at the time, was this is ludicrous.”

He said a drug summit should be held to address the issue.

GABRIELLE UPTON:

NSW Attorney General Gabrielle Upton. NSW Cabinet Swearing in held at Government House, Sydney. Picture: Bradley Hunter

VAUCLUSE MP and newly named Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton said she would consider strengthening laws to punish repeat offenders of violent drug crimes.

Ms Upton said the State Government had already taken steps to cut down on alleged repeat offenders through changes to the bail laws and wanted to consider extending that to include drug dealers and violent drug offenders.

“I think people who abuse drugs and alcohol and commit violent acts ... those people shouldn’t be on the street until they are dealt with by the legal system,” she said.

She expressed concern over the growing scourge of ice in the eastern suburbs, but stopped short of supporting a push to decriminalise and regulate it.

“It is an interesting concept, it is not a proposal before government and I would need to talk to my colleagues,” she said.

“But what we would need to do now is ensure that drugs, alcohol those things that influence safety in our community (are addressed),” she said.

The former Family and Community Services minister said she saw how it, “terrorised some very good tenants in public housing”.

DR ALEX WODAK

Dr Alex Wodak is President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation

AUSTRALIAN  Drug Law Reform Foundation president Dr Alex Wodak says ice should be decriminalised and regulated.

Dr Wodak said ice should be thought of as a health and social problem rather than a criminal justice problem.

The former head of St Vincent’s Hospital’s drug and alcohol services, Dr Wodak said prohibition prompted dealers to create and import stronger drugs with deadly consequences.

However, less harmful drugs such as marijuana should be regulated first.

“It will need a lot of explanation. The details will matter. It is important to do the whole process slowly and correctly. It is not going to be huge progress in the next five days. It will take many years.”

The best start to solving the ice crisis would be to give “much more money to drug treatment”, he said.

“We have got to help people who get into trouble and can’t get out who keep supporting the market by buying these drugs for ridiculous amounts.”