Authorities have identified some cities and suburbs as “Ice corridors” where there is a lot of activity. Logan in Brisbane is one. Bunbury in WA another.
In Western Australia, the statistics for drug possession and drug use are not good. According to an article in a number of WA newspapers they say the methamphetamines epidemic “shows little sign of abating.” To the point that there are now more people being treated for drug use than there are for alcohol.
The number of treatments through drug and alcohol services, where the primary substance of concern was methamphetamine, leapt from 6705 treatments in 2015 to 7868 treatments last year. That’s a huge increase of 17 percent.
In contrast, the number of treatments for alcohol problems has been consistent at 6190. In the period 2011-2016.
Meth overtook alcohol-related emergency treatment in 2015 as well.
Meanwhile, a 25 year old working as a casino croupier in Sydney has been sent to jail for eight years. He started off using cocaine three to four times a week and his life turned ugly when a drug dealer forced him at gun point to become a drug mule. When he was arrested police found high purity (80%) stashed in sophisticated hiding compartments in his vehicle. The methamphetamines had a street value of $700,000. The judge said a hefty sentence was needed to deter others from being involved in the illicit drug trade.