News

Calls for better support for Ice recovery

Fri, 29 Nov 2013 05:51:00

Agencies behind a community-driven anti-drugs campaign are calling for better support services for recovering users of methamphetamines, particularly ice.

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry is sitting in Mildura next month to hear evidence from agencies including the Project ICE Mildura consortium, which is orchestrating the first grass-roots community campaign against ice in Victoria.
The initiative has raised more than $30,000 in funds to promote awareness and community resilience against what health agencies say is Mildura’s most significant drugs problem.
Project ICE representatives made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry in October, which described State and Federal strategies dealing with methamphetamine use as “virtually non-existent”.
The submission said communities “seem to have been caught out by the prevalence and impact that ice has had”.
The submission also expressed frustration that repeat offenders of Ice-related crime were being handed extremely light sentences, or community-based orders.
“Far from being a deterrent, (it) encourages offenders to continue drug-related activities,” the submission said.
However the Project Ice submission emphasised that there were opportunities to support the successful recovery of users of methamphetamines.
“Experts once thought cases of meth addition were hopeless – a high percentage would always relapse – but today we know that recovery is possible, although it may take years of medication and behaviour therapy,” the submission said.
“Because methamphetamine changes the brain’s wiring by destroying its dopamine receptors, users need almost a year to allow those receptors to re-grow.  Until then, addicts cannot experience pleasure without the drug, and most slip into a deep depression that may cause them to relapse.”
However counsellors with the Project Ice consortium said the depression experienced by addicts could be treated with psychopharmacology, and treatment programs often included prescriptions for anti-depressants.
The submission said the success of the treatment programs depended heavily on the skills of qualified staff, as well as the ability to constantly manage client needs and adapt to changing circumstances.
“The majority of persons in rural areas have no easy access to specialised health care, but primary health care networks can provide a contact point and a means of intervention,” the submission said.
Project Ice said the common first step to treating crystal meth abuse is detoxification.
“The current set-up in residential withdrawal units located away from the region…is not conducive to the needs of the client, especially in the first few days to a week, where clients undergo a ‘crash’ period,” the submission said.
“Family members are demonstrating more support and involvement…however treatment services are not designed to meet the needs of family-inclusive therapy.
“Education and training in brief interventions needs to be provided across all professions and community, to ensure people are equipped and confident to deal with people under the influence of methamphetamine.”
Project Ice is running monthly community information sessions, with the next on December 10. Others are scheduled for January 14, February 11 and March 11.
Information about Project ICE Mildura and ice-related issues is available from the Northern Mallee Primary Care Partnership website www.northernmalleepcp.org
Anyone with drug or alcohol problems can get assistance and support from Sunraysia Community Health Drug Treatment Services team (5022 5444) or Mallee District Aboriginal Services Alcohol and Other Drugs team (5018 4100).  Information about drug-related activity or crime can be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers 1800 333000 or www.vic.crimestoppers.com.au