EIGHTYPER cent of all crime in Bacchus Marsh is drug-related, local police have revealed.
A 200-strong public meeting last Tuesday night heard that drug-related crime was increasing, with more and more people turning to the drug ‘ice’.
“The police tell us 80 per cent of the crime
in town is due to drug-related reasons,” Moorabool mayor Pat Griffin told a packed council 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, when 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.
Shelly Cross, general manager of local drug and alcohol counselling agency Stepping Up, 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, its 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 at which a young resident overdosed on drugs.
Djerriwarrh Health Services chief executive officer Bruce Marshall agreed there was an increase in the overall use of alcohol and drug use, but he had not seen an exponential increase in the use of the service’s acute detox service. “But the two issues are somewhat unrelated. Any abuse of alcohol and drugs of any kind is a concern and the community needs to find ways in which it can deal with this increasing community and health concern.”
Police to launch family support group: page 5
