The State Government are being called on to provide better
funding for the Hunter to combat the growing Ice epidemic.
 |
| Jodie Harrison |
It comes after a recent report suggested possession charges
in Lake Macquarie grew by more than 70 percent in 2015.
The figures are twice as high as the State average.
Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison says while this issue is a
criminal one, it does also need to be treated as a health one.
“What is most often driving the use of methylamphetamine are
underlying issues, and quite often they relate to mental health issues, they
relate to homelessness,” she said.
“They are underlying issues that need to be dealt with in a
very sympathetic way rather than taking a hardline approach.
“Our criminal justice system needs to work hand in hand with
our health system.”
The Labor MP has echoed the same call in from Greens Leader
Richard Di Natale, who in February told 2NUR FM News Ice addiction needed to be
decriminalised.
“There are resources that are going towards policing and
through the courts to target individuals who have got drug addiction rather
than spending that money on treatment, on rehabilitation, on detox, on all the
things we know that work,” he said.
“We’re calling for a much more rational approach. One that treats this as a health issue rather
than a law and order issue.”
While the State Government has invested in drug
rehabilitation, particular through charity organisation like The Samaritans,
Jodie Harrison believes funding needs to be given to other support services.
“What’s not getting supported are the families who are
trying their darndest to support their loved one through an Ice addiction,” she
said.
“Those families aren’t getting Government support and they
need it.”
