Drugs like ice have Australia hooked

AUSTRALIA is in the midst of an ice epidemic, with the drug being linked to a growing number of crimes, and higher quantities of the amphetamine seized at our borders.

And there is no end in sight to our addiction.

Experts say the popularity of the drug caught Australia unawares, with the usage on par with the crack cocaine epidemic in the United States.

In recent months even the Prime Minister has admitted the war on drugs may be unwinnable.

Evidence showing the extent of the problem emerged last week with an Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) survey showing large numbers of people who had been arrested had amphetamines in their system, with ice being one of the most common varieties.

Even worse the survey showed the drug was of good quality and easy to obtain.

Drug researcher Associate Professor John Fitzgerald told news.com.au that he didn’t think Australia was prepared for the amphetamine epidemic and it was impossible to say when it would end.

Police and addiction experts warned of the dangers of amphetamines from the late 1990s but it is possible the country didn’t understand extent of it until it was too late.

“It’s hard to tell where it’s going to go … We weren’t well prepared for this change.”

Drug trends were difficult to predict but Professor Fitzgerald thinks the epidemic is going to be a difficult problem to solve.

“It’s not going to go away quickly.”

Methamphetamines have been linked with a number of brutal crimes in Australia and the acting chief of the ACC Paul Jevtovic likened it to the crack cocaine epidemic wreaking havoc in the United States.

The report said the long-term use of ice can lead to aggressive and violent behaviour, depression, cardiovascular problems, and kidney failure.