EIGHTY per cent of all crime in Bacchus Marsh is drug-related, local police have revealed at a 200-strong public meeting held in town on Tuesday night.
In attendance was Moorabool mayor Pat Griffin, who said drug-related crime was a significant problem, with more and more people turning to the drug ‘ice’.
‘‘The police told us 80 per cent of the crime in town is due to drug-related reasons,’’ he told a packed meeting.
‘‘That’s incredibly significant. It’s [drugs] a scourge in our community… we need to be aware of this. We can’t take it lightly.’’
Cr Griffin said he was stunned at the turn-out on Tuesday night, where health and youth workers, Bacchus Marsh police and a mother of a young addict spoke out.
‘‘I was expecting maybe 20 people, I was amazed to see around 200,’’ he said.
‘‘It was pretty startling stuff, there was a large cross-section of people there [at the public meeting].’’
‘Ice’ is a street name for crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, which is a powerful, synthetic stimulant drug.
Local drug and alcohol counselling agency Stepping Up general manager Shelly Cross said she had seen an increase in the use of the drug ice.
‘‘Definitely. Ice is quite prevalent in Bacchus Marsh,’’ she said.
‘‘However it goes in waves, it’s quite cyclical, it’s use is quite opportunistic.
‘‘Alcohol is still the primary drug of choice, then cannabis, then ice.’’
Cr Griffin said he’d received several calls after a recent party where a young resident overdosed on drugs.
