By Paul Millar
ICE-RELATED emergency ambulance call-outs have spiralled in Geelong, with a state union leader warning the drug could take hold of entire suburbs.
Steve McGhie, the state secretary of the Ambulance Employees Union, said Geelong was a problem area needing a show of leadership.
Statistics show the greater Geelong area had the highest rate of ambulance call-outs for ice-influenced incidents in regional Victoria.
“There has been a huge increase in the Geelong area,” Mr McGhie said.
“It’s taking up a lot of time for paramedics and it’s dangerous dealing with these people – they can lose total control and they became so aggressive, women as well as men.”
Turning Point, part of an International Network of Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Resource Centres, revealed that Geelong also had the highest rate of call-outs in regional Victoria in 2012/2013 for heroin overdoses.
Police and community leaders believe that the growing rise of cheap and available ice – and a consequent increase in crime – is one of the city’s biggest problems.
“The effects of this drug damage not only the users, but also families,’’ Mr McGhie said.
“It can take control of whole suburbs, communities need to get involved. We have to work together.
“It’s a community issue and the community has to deal with it.’’
A coalition of communities will today launch a year-long campaign to tackle the problem.
Our Town’s Ice Fight Geelong project manager Senior Sergeant Anthony Francis said the city was “coming together on this”.
“Everybody knows how bad it is and the trauma associated with it, now we need to do something,’’ he said.
Snr Sgt Francis said he had heard enough horror stories linked to the drug.
“This is the first community that is doing something about it,’’ he said.
The group, involving up to 60 individuals and representatives from across the region, aims to raise awareness and implement prevention strategies.
The year of action campaign will be launched at Cunningham Pier between 1pm and 4pm today.
