Families of ice addicts urged to call new hotline
A man is arrested as police seize about 1.5kg of the drug methylamphetamine, otherwise known as ice, after executing a search warrant at a home in North Boambee in Coffs Harbour. (AAP) AAP
The Victorian government has launched a help line for families of ice addicts, as part of a larger plan to combat the scourge of methamphetamines.
Dubbed ‘the drug that got away from us’, the uptake amongst people aged 20-29 particularly in regional Victoria is concerning the government.
The advice line - 1800 423 238 – is targeted as a ‘one-stop shop’ for concerned family members and frontline workers seeking specialist advice.
It is part of a broader plan launched by the Andrews government last month, featured at www.ice.vic.gov.au.
Health authorities believe families identifying ice addiction early and seeking advice can help mitigate the effects of the drug.
While usage has remained stable at around two percent of the population, police and health workers are seeing an increase in overdoses, deaths, family violence and car accidents from drug-driving.
In regional Victoria, paramedics saw a 200 percent increase in ice-related call-outs in 2013 over the previous year, compared to an 88 percent increase in metropolitan Melbourne.
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