Town takes a stand in drug wars

THE town of St George has been given a chance to wipe the slate clean and pick itself up after years of crippling drug addiction.

It’s a rare chance for a town so committed to its community and reputation, but one its residents are already embracing with support agencies in the wake of this week’s major drug busts.

As Detective Inspector Paul Hart told The Chronicle today on page five, the war on drugs will never stop completely.

That’s an impossible ask of any police force or even any government.

But the people of St George have to be commended for how they have worked to repair the town from the ice scourge.

This is a town that has been proactive combating the problem for years with its sporting groups among the leaders to take a stand and say no - that drugs were not welcome.

Couple that with a police force that genuinely wants to help the residents get “clean” and the levels of government both state and federal working with welfare agencies and not-for-profit groups and it’s a commendable program.

The police operation was launched two years ago, came to a head on Wednesday and continued yesterday when more arrests were made.

Expect more in the coming days and with any logic and luck, this operation will be rolled out across the state.

Here’s hoping it is, because all our communities need a chance to break free from ice.