THE battle against the drug ice in Dubbo and western NSW needs a big boost in rehabilitation services, according to anti-drugs campaigner and Nguumambiny Indigenous Corporation manager Lynn Field.
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Ms Field, who has been a champion in the fight against the ice scourge, which has destroyed many lives in Dubbo and the surrounding towns, made the comments following the release of the National Ice Taskforce interim report to the Council of Australian Government's (COAG) this week.
The report listed six priority areas to combat the highly-addictive drug, which were focusing law enforcement actions, targeting primary prevention, improving access to early intervention, treatment and support services, supporting local communities to respond, improving tools for frontline workers and improving and consolidating research and data.
The frightening impact of ice was rammed home as a major issue of concern during a recent tour of regional police stations, in which discussions between officers and NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and Dubbo state MP and Deputy Premier Troy Grant consistently focused on ice.
The NSW government minister Pru Goward will visit Dubbo next week and make an "ice related announcement". (see report page 5)
Ms Field believes more support services are vital to help in the fight against the destructive drug.
"We need a rehabilitation centre in Dubbo," she said.
"This is a problem in every town and city so we have to have the services available to break the cycle of an addict.
"When you get that chance you need to have the services ready to help these people and at the moment we don't have good enough services in place."
Parkes MP Mark Coulton acknowledged ice was still a massive issue for people in his electorate.
"It wouldn't be every day but people are talking to me about it on a regular basis," he said.
"It is a concern right throughout every town in my electorate."
Assistant Minister for Health Senator Fiona Nash, who chaired the National Ice Consultation Group which visited Dubbo on May 18, said from her experiences, she did not believe ice was particularly worse in Dubbo than other centres.
"There isn't a stand-alone area that is experiencing it worse than others," she said.
"It isn't restricted to Dubbo and it is a massive issue in many areas."
The taskforce will continue working with the Prime Minister, the Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol and Drugs, the states and territories and the Australian Local Government Association to develop a final report and strategy to be considered by COAG before the end of the year.
