The impact of the drug ice on the Sutherland Shire community was the subject of a one-day seminar at Cronulla Central on Wednesday.
Community stakeholders including federal, state and local Government representatives along with specialists in education, health, social work, community youth work and counselling met to discuss the challenges that methamphetamines like ice pose to communities across Australia.
Stakeholders heard about an approach being taken by a new QLD-based charity group – the Australian Anti-Ice Campaign (AAIC).
The aim of the group was to raise awareness and educate the public, particularly young people, about the dangers of the drug ice, or crystal methamphetamine.
The group’s core message is “not even once” and the objective was to “put the freeze on ice”.
AAIC founder and CEO, Ms Andrea Simmons made a highly impassioned presentation outlining a radical new program being offered to high school age students and said there is a way out for users – you don’t have to be trapped for life.
“Don't ostracise them, empathise and don’t break the lifeline,” Ms Simmons said.
“Someone has to help the user break out of the cycle.
“We say it's a person who is addicted to ice, not an ice addict. We make it more personal by having someone talk to the kids who has been through the addiction.”
The AAIC program is having tremendous success in other regions of Australia such as Far North Queensland and includes school presentations, training of counsellors and teachers within schools, support for addicts and their families, and training of former ice addicts to assist with AAIC program.
The Cronulla event was sponsored and organised by the Rotary Club of Caringbah, with the objective of bringing together key stakeholders to determine if such a program has value in the shire.
Sutherland Shire is currently deemed to have lower than average ice penetration but it was agreed that prevention and education programs are worthy of evaluation, particularly as ice has reached epidemic levels in other regions.
The main topic debated was whether there should be intervention to ensure that ice doesn’t become a major problem here in the shire.
The group determined more data and research would be best before introducing such a unique program systematically across all shire schools.
A pilot program may now be run to assess the value and positive impact on students.
Caringbah Rotary Club’s director of new generations, Jeff Eager said the event required some “serious co-ordination” as there are many players, moving parts and strong views.
“There was some very valuable learnings for all and in the end we believe in what is right for our local youth, not necessarily who is right,” Mr Eager said.
“We are continuing to evaluate the program together with other local programs.”
Other representatives at the event included the Sutherland Shire Principals Association, NSW State Health & Education, Sutherland Shire Council, Local Police Youth Liaison Officers, Project Youth, Engadine Youth Services, 2 Connect Youth and community groups.