"Alarming figures from the West Australian Meth Strategy, released in May, showed 3.8 per cent of people over 14 years old used meth - nearly twice the national average of 2.1 per cent.
A waste water trial recently completed in Perth, Geraldton and Bunbury in the past year showed West Australians consumed around two tonnes of methamphetamine annually."
Worrying statistics, wonder why such a high usage rate?
This problem is not isolated to WA nor to the 21st century. I have a daughter (in early 40's been on this crap for more than 20 years). I grew up in the 60's as many of us on this forum did. I not WE experiment with "different things" but didn't get "hooked ". I personally think that social security (the dole) is too easily access. My daughters addition still continues, that broke up a 29 year marriage. I've moved on since then and remarried as has the X. I think unless the courts come down on "These Scum Drug Dealers" it's only going to get worse. The young nowadays don't seem to have any respect (I think for themselves manly ). Who's fault is that? What a guestion. Only my opinion.
Cheers Owen.
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The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.
The problem with these meth drugs - ice, etc., is that the user thinks they are infallible - they are in control, they think - but we know they aren't - the drug is in control, and the dealers. Have seen "before and after" photos - shocking, also know someone who was on ice, thought he was a king - obviously had distorted vision, couldn't see what we all could see - the deterioration of a good looking young man into an emaciated looking person. Very sad, he is now clean - and hopefully stays that way.
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jules "Love is good for the human being!!" (Ben, aged 10)
It is more prevalent than we would think. Interstate truckies have used it for decades to stay awake but it seems to have taken off in recent years. I was truly shocked to find that my son had been hooked on it for a few years. This happened while working in mining towns even starting while still on his apprenticeship. I believe it is touted as the best drug as it clears out of your system quicker in jobs with regular drug testing. Older workmates hand out this kind of advice to the younger ones. Although he has kicked the habit now, it has had long lasting effects on his personality and ability to deal with stress and I still hope to one day have my old son back, maybe even stronger than before.
The "blokey" lifestyle in mining towns has a lot to answer for and that could be why the usage is so high in WA. Recently, my son ran into a homeless person begging on the street and on handing him some money, realised it was a boy he went to school with who admitted he had a meth problem. Its so sad to think that that little boy who came to our birthday parties has ended up in that situation. As a parent of an adult child we are just powerless to help them.
