Two known users of the drug ice aged under 35 years died in a two-week period last month "due to overdose and comorbidities", a Dubbo health worker has told an inquiry into the substance's scourge on western NSW.
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Dubbo Hospital emergency department nurse unit manager (NUM) Christopher Waters also testified there had been an increase of presentations related to "amphetamine-type stimulants" in the past two years.
The senior clinical nurse was one of the frontline health workers to give evidence at the opening day of public hearings of the Special Commision of Inquiry into the Drug 'Ice', set up by the NSW government.
Mr Waters also told the Commissioner, Professor Dan Howard SC, the frequency of people severely affected by the drug and requiring sedation immediately was half a dozen a week.
Dubbo is one of five regional centres the inquiry is visiting.
The inquiry began its work on Monday when evidence was taken in private from people who had lived experience with amphetamine-type stimulants.
It also heard from members of the region's Aboriginal community.
"The evidence was powerful, moving and shocking," counsel assisting the special commission Nicholas Kelly said in his opening address.
"...The evidence is clear that this region is in crisis right now.
"It is a crisis that spans country, generations and services and the people it affects are desperate for help."
The inquiry continues and is livestreamed.
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Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
