Melbourne’s west: Drug trends worrying police

Police have revealed which drug is the most commonly used in Melbourne’s west, with a surprising prescription pill becoming more popular among young people.

The illicit drugs causing the most harm in Melbourne’s western suburbs have been revealed at a police forum to engage with community concerns.

Police leadership in the northwest metro division joined residents, business owners and representatives from community organisations on Wednesday to discuss local trends and the police response.

Detective Inspector Scott Colson said investigators were actively targeting the drugs which were causing the most harm to the community.

“By volume the largest seizures is cannabis by far,” he said.

“However the drug causing us the most harm is what we’d refer to as amphetamine-type substances. That is ice and speed.”

He told the Wyndham CommSafe Forum police could clearly see the effects ice had on the local community, impacting family units and the hospital and ambulance services.

”We have a great deal of work in that space, our DRU (divisional response unit) has been tasked to specifically focus on the drugs causing the most harm,” he said.

Inspector Colson revealed police had “seen a rise” in the use of GHB, a liquid depressant known as a “date-rape” drug, due to prices skyrocketing for other illicit substances like heroin and cocaine.

“We do seize a lot of litres of that of late, that seems to be because it’s a fairly cheap option for drug traffickers to get their hands on and distribute,” he said.

Another drug trend worrying police, he said, was the use of “Xanax-type” prescription pills in the hands of young people.

“Worryingly what we’re also seeing, and it’s been for a while now, is the availability of Xanax-type substances,” he said.

“We see a lot of our youths accessing Xanax – that’s their primary drug.”

He assured attendants at the forum police were doing everything they could to divert people away from drug-use and were focusing police resources on drug-traffickers.

“If you have any information about drug traffickers, please call Crime Stoppers. We will investigate it because we know the harm it causes,” he said.

Addressing the crowd about national and state-wide trends, Assistant Commissioner Brett Corran said the primary focus of police was targeting “those that will supply, manufacture and import” drugs.

“Our strategy recognises the most important thing is harm reduction in our drug approach,” he said.

“We’re looking to disrupt and prevent people from being involved in drug consumption.”

He said the latest wastewater analysis in Victoria showed methamphetamine consumption had fallen to the lowest level on record.
Crime Stoppers can be reached on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestoppersvic.com.au.