BALLARAT’S highest ranking police officer has called for a consolidated government and community effort to reduce the increasing supply and use of drugs in the community.
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His call comes as social leaders say there is desperate need for more live-in rehabilitative centres to ensure those grappling with addiction are provided with the stable environment they need to detox and recover.
Nearly two years have passed since a groundbreaking inquiry into the state’s methamphetamine epidemic Ballarat’s methamphetamine offences are continuing to rise.
Latest Crime Statistics Agency data shows methamphetamine offences in Ballarat have nearly doubled in the past year.
Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen said while cannabis continued to account for the majority of use and possession offences in Ballarat, the rates of offences involving methamphetamine continued to rise.
He said the rise was not unique to Ballarat and reflected the statewide increased presence of drugs.
“This is consistent with many other regional areas across the state,” Superintendent Allen said.
“The increased presence of drugs in our community is a concern for police. In the vast majority of cases, police proactively detect drug offences rather than relying on offences being reported to us. “Our approach to addressing this issue centres on disruption – to reduce the supply of drugs, target repeat offenders and reduce re-offending through diversion.”
Ballarat and District Aboriginal co-operative chief Karen Heap said the problem of ice remained strong in the community and many people who wanted and needed to access services could not, simply because there were no beds available.
“There is a great need for services… detox and rehabilitation services in regional Victoria are very limited,” Ms Heap said.
“We need services that wrap around – looking at the issues (that addicts face) and how we can do something (to stop it). We can’t just band-aid the moment.
“People don’t just wake up and decide to be a drug addict.” She called on the government to invest in rehabilitative services in regional in Ballarat.
Stu Fenton, whose planning permit to build a detox centre in Smeaton was recently refused by Hepburn Shire Council, said he was sending clients to New South Wales because the waiting time in Victoria was too long and the need for beds far outweighed the supply. He said many addicts were turning up to counselling services impaired by drugs and could not get the benefit out of the session that they would out of live-in care.