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Australia Anti Ice Campaign aims to expose the drug Ice for what it really is, an insidiously poisonous chemical concoction that eventually, and often rapidly, destroys the physical and mental health of almost everyone who uses it, with the destruction of families and friendships, and often suicide, as the ultimate outcome.
Glen first became involved after a friend in Queensland committed suicide following Ice use. Rotary Clubs on the Gold Coast have been very pro-active in getting the Australian Anti Ice Campaign off the ground and continuing support. Now Glen is talking to Rotary Clubs in WA to start the campaign here. This presentation was recorded and will be available on District website in near future.
Glen used the case study of former addict Andrea Simmons, who following rehab, began to visit schools to warn students of the drug's dangers and long-term effects and found that students were very receptive hearing the story from a personal level.
Ice is also known as 'crystal meth', it is a crystalline form of the drug methamphetamine. Other names include meth, shabu, tina and glass. Methamphetamine is a stimulant drug that comes in three main forms: Ice, Base and Speed, which indicates the difference of the drug in purity. Even though Ice looks pure in it's form it can still be 'cut' with other chemicals. The high purity of ice can mean that the side-effects are worse than for speed and base.
Some statistics:
- 10,000kg of Ice has been seized in the last 12 months.
- Australia has the highest per capita users in the world and recent seizures still do not stop this
- $50 for one hit per person is the cost (most expensive in the world)
Ice can be produced locally by using instructions that can be found on the web and this supplements illegal imports that come mainly from Mexico. Smoking ice is more addictive than most other forms of drug use. Among meth/amphetamine users, the use of ice has more than doubled the last few years. Ice can cause paranoia and hallucinations, this is called a meth psychosis. Ice is notoriously associated with violence, as it increases the 'fight or flight' reaction which can make people respond more aggressively to situations where they feel threatened.
The Ice Task Force shows that 70% of users had no pre-existing conditions but became addicted quickly and developed mental health issues as a result. The withdrawal time is 12-18 months, much longer than Heroin or other Opioids. Ice addicts often leave the rehab program before completion and return to using the drug. The addict's need to consume Ice and the associated costs are fueling the rate of crime.
Two kids per week are affected by Ice addicted parents and there has been an increase of Meth babies being born
Education is the Key to prevention of using the drug Ice, and using former Ice addicts, such as Jay Birch (who supported Glen at the presentation), who can explain from their own experience how this addiction can affect health and lifestyle has shown to be successful. Jay has visited many schools in Queensland, talked to students and parents and had been involved in training and guiding teachers.
How can Rotary help? - Rotary could organise a Walk Against Ice with Media coverage, and an associated fundraiser to assist with Anti Ice Workshops in Schools.