SECOND only to alcohol, ice has become the number two drug of choice for local users, many of whom can now buy the drug without leaving their home town says the Lyndon Community's CEO Ed Zarnow.
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Mr Zarnow said while once drug users would be forced to travel to metropolitan locations or large regional cities the drug has now infiltrated smaller communities and towns.
"Ice is readily available and it's potent, good quality," he said.
"For our clients alcohol continues to be the biggest issue but ice, or methamphetamines, has crept up to be the second biggest issue, overtaking cannabis."
Yesterday Mr Zarnow welcomed the federal government's $2 million funding allocation to the Lyndon Community for the 2015/2016 financial year and said the money will be used to continue to tackle the region's drug and alcohol problems.
Mr Zarnow said despite on-going funding there were still gaps in the drug and alcohol treatments offered in places such as Dubbo and other rural and remote locations.
Member for Calare John Cobb said the new funding allocation means the Lyndon Community will continue to offer its services to help individuals and families.
"The Lyndon Community withdrawal unit will receive $1,545,000 over the next 12 months, with substantial contributions also made to the Lyndon Community outreach service ($426,000) and the Lyndon Community assertive in-reach program ($165,000)," Mr Cobb said.
"People are kidding themselves if they think there's not a drug and alcohol problem here.
"I know alcohol is still the number one substance of abuse, and the cause of so many incidents of domestic abuse but ice is now something that everyone's becoming aware of."
Mr Cobb said 95 times out of 100 people who become aggressive after drinking alcohol can be calmed down but "ice is a totally different ball game".
He said a number of police officer friends have told him it can take up to seven officers 15 minutes to place an ice-user in a paddy wagon.
"Ice turns people psychotic."
A review of the drug and alcohol treatment services sector, commissioned by the Department of Health, is also currently under consideration by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.
"The review was initiated in 2013 to examine the duplication and overlap between services and propose a better way forward," Mr Cobb said.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.au
