RESEARCH into drug use in regional Victoria is extremely poor, according to one of the state’s leading authorities on drug and alcohol dependence.
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association executive director Sam Biondo said the lack of information on rural drug use was appalling.
His assessment follows a large public meeting held in Bacchus Marsh to discuss an increase in the use of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, or ‘ice’.
“There’s no coherent collection [of information] and there would be great value in a large regional study,” Mr Biondo said.
“It’s appalling considering the millions of dollars spent by governments. There really is a dearth of data on drug use in regional and rural areas.”
The Weekly was unable to obtain police statistics on arrests and investigations directly linked to drugs due to a September 1 embargo. However, Mr Biondo said crime data was not fully indicative of the problem.
“Police figures can be a bit rubbery and are only indicative of who they confront. It’s only the tip of the iceberg.”
Mr Biondo said he’d heard anecdotally that the use of ice in Bacchus Marsh was increasing and that population growth, social isolation and mortgage stress were underpinning the problem.
“It’s a complex problem and needs better support from government. We need to better understand the causal factors for using drugs and the stresses and strains people are under.”
However, a Bacchus Marsh paramedic said he’d never attended an incident directly related to ice during his three years working in town.
“Basically, we don’t see it [ice],” he said. “The further you go into the city the more you do see it.”
Alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre Turning Point recently produced a study into drug and alcohol-related ambulance attendances in Melbourne, but it did not cover regional areas.
Police last week said up to 80per cent of all local crime was linked to drug use.
