Drug law reformers planning Australia’s first ice smoking room

THERE are plans to create an “ice room” in a bid to improve Australia’s drug epidemic. Sydney’s south west is a potential site but, unsurprisingly, Opinions on its presence are divided.

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THERE are plans to create an “ice room” and Sydney’s south west is one potential site in a bid to improve Australia’s drug epidemic.

Matt Noffs, grandson of the founder of the Ted Noffs foundation and author of Breaking the Ice, said drug users needed somewhere to get high that was safe for them and the community.

Mr Noffs wants to create a medically supervised room for ice smokers to get high — instead of injecting they’ll inhale the drug.

Matt Noffs is rallying for a safe place for ice users in Sydney’s south west. Picture: Craig Wilson

But long-time Liverpool resident and Chamber of Commerce president, Harry Hunt, said the proposal was concerning.

“Having an ice room in Liverpool is going to project an image of Liverpool as the drug capital of the south west,” Mr Hunt told ABC’s 7.30 last Wednesday night.

A petition has already been created against the ice inhalation room. Claiming violence around the centre would be a concern.

“We don’t want that sort of image.” Despite the State Government not backing the plans, drug law reformers Mr Noffs and Alex Wodak, said they would still like to go ahead.

In preparation, experts have visited a drug consumption room in Switzerland.

Alex Wodak and Matt Noffs believe the success at the Kings Cross medical supervised injection room was proof their radical plan could work.

Former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer acknowledged more needed to be done.

“ ... The current arrangements aren’t achieving the outcomes we would like to achieve,” he told 7.30.

Dr Alex Wodak supports a push for safe injecting rooms.

Dr Wodak and Mr Noffs believe the success at the Kings Cross injection room was proof their radical plan could work.

Dr Wodak believes an inhalation room would make it easier to get addicts into treatment.

“If we know someone will be dependent on a drug, you would rather them inhale than inject,” Mr Noffs said.