COLD, HARSH FACTS OF ICE
PUBLIC holidays mean fewer people on the streets, so the presence of two troubled souls in the heart of Southport was more obvious than usual yesterday.
A young woman sat on her haunches, shouting abuse at no one in particular.
About half a block away a young man was approaching strangers and begging for money. Both appeared to have mental health issues. Whether drugs had played a part was not obvious.
But what is known in the bigger picture is that use of the methamphetamine drug known as ice is soaring. One terrible consequence is that government welfare agencies have no choice but to take children away from ice-addicted parents.
It is tragic and heartbreaking, but the kids must be protected from the threat of violence and neglect.
As reported today, what has emerged is a grim picture of older children – still only aged around 10 – having to step up and become carers for young siblings, while parents are dragged down in a spiral that can only end in personal and family disaster.
Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman quoted lots of figures to try to explain the scale of what is an Australia-wide crisis. The fact her department has launched a new foster carer recruitment campaign to find families that will open hearts and homes to the child victims of this blight says plenty.
We are failing. Governments have tried running advertisements that show psychotic ice users lashing out violently in hospital wards. The aim is to send a message, but there has been little if any effect.
Ms Fentiman might have greater success if she started spelling out the reality behind the statistics.
Ice is made from poisons such as paint stripper, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, drain cleaner, battery acid, lantern fuel and car antifreeze. It cooks the brain.
Some users can turn into monsters and lash out. Addicts will play on their addiction and talk about rehabilitation, but they are also selfish and despite knowing they cannot control their use – they have no “off’’ switch – they will load up with no thought for how their actions affect their children, partners, friends, work colleagues and wider society.
They have a problem and boy, so do the rest of us in dealing with the fallout.