An increasing number of ice users in the west are seeking help for criminal, civil and family law cases, Sunshine Legal Aid reports.
Managing lawyer Amanda Carter said at least half of all western suburbs-based clients seeking help for criminal cases were using ice.
Those affected by the drug were more likely to commit more serious offences and much more frequently, Ms Carter said.
“It’s not that the overall number of clients affected by drugs has increased, but ice as the preferred drug has increased significantly. The legal problems of those affected by ice tend to be more serious and escalate to complexity more quickly.”
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) presented a submission to the National Ice Taskforce warning that the social and legal costs of ice use will escalate unless specialist rehabilitation services are introduced. The submission urges the government to consider ice use as primarily a health issue.
“Ice-affected clients have issues with poor health, unstable mental health and damaged relationships with family and friends,” Ms Carter said.
“They have higher rates of homelessness, and all those [aforementioned] personal circumstances do make the situation much harder.”
More research was necessary to determine the impact ice had on users’ mental health and their families, she said.
In its submission, the VLA recommends that the government fund specialist long-term residential rehabilitation centres and expand magistrates court programs, such as the Dandenong-based Drug Court, to regional areas. And it wants government, health and legal sectors to collaborate in educating young people about the dangers of using ice.
“Generally [users are] a younger age group, from teens up to 30,” the submission states.
“Males are more likely to use. However, women associated with these males often become actively involved in the use, running and trafficking.”
The National Ice Taskforce is due to present an interim report to the Prime Minister
soon.
