Make no mistake

aussie_paul · Guru

Make no mistake

Eaglemax · Guru

From heroin to ice and all in between they haven't been able to stop any. Regional areas have far less drug problems but it's growing. Usual problem, not enough penalties.

dorian · Guru

We should probably go back to treating users as the criminals that they are.

BasilB · Veteran Member

make it same price as coffee and watch the criminals disappear.

rgren2 · Guru

It is difficult living with one you love who is addicted to the stuff. Slowly hes getting better. ):

Eaglemax · Guru

Rgen2... it would be. Parents of those addicted are no longer judged as bad parents, it's too wide spread now. Hang in there mate.

rgren2 · Guru

Four years ago we were packed up for a journey, he came home to live (for a coupla weeks), its only in the lasts ten months that progress has been made. We no longer have a caravan. Only one of us can go away at a time. Both of us went to a funeral recently, were away for two nights. When we came home, things could have been better, but, they could have been a lot worse. Its ironic, I have cleaned the drug problem from from schools, but couldnt prevent the problem at home. Some people just dont want to give the stuff up. Hes now not dependent on the white, but wont even attempt to give up the green.

deverall11 · Guru

dorian wrote:
We should probably go back to treating users as the criminals that they are.

Yes but the real problem is the distributor and the cooks. I once had a conversation with a member

of the NSW police when they came to inform me that my son had taken his own life about shooting

dead the cook when they do a bust. The PC correct answer was they were not allowed to do that.

I volunteered my services.

Get rid of the cook, you are a long way into removing the end product. Don't blame the user. They

turn bad because that is what the drug does. Went to school with a guy who was addicted to heroin

back in the 70's. A couple of times he staged a robbery at his parent's house because he was

so desperate for money. Also knew of another school friend who turned to prostitution in Kings Cross

to feed his habit.

dorian · Guru

I find it hard, if not impossible, to feel any sympathy for drug users, especially when I read stories like this:

www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-05/driver-sentenced-over-crash-killed-motorcyclist-ravensthorpe/102816902

I didn't do drugs when I was young, so I wasn't part of the "in" crowd. I suspect that many drug abusers were the "victims" of peer pressure, or were weak individuals who needed to "belong". I'm sure they all laughed at me, but where/what/who are they now?

peter67 · Guru

The only way to tackle the drug cartels is to remove the profit incentive.

shakey55 · Senior Member

MAKE NO MISTAKE - IT IS A PROBLEM

Having worked in law enforcement for over thirty years, of which about half of that was in various squads targeting drug distribution at all levels, I can tell you drug use/abuse is rampant in high end suburbs, lower socioeconomic areas and several, if not all rural areas.

As to how to combat it, well that is the biggest question of all. Ive seen some horrific sights of people of all ages that are really at the point of being oxygen thieves. No matter what you do for them they will not ever stop using the rotten stuff.

The use of illicit drugs IS A HEALTH problem that the authorities can do nothing about. Back around 2000 I had a fairly senior person from within the health system shadow my team for four weeks. I said to her one day as we came upon a house full of teenage heroin users, why cant we just round up these people and force them into rehabilitation, surely the majority of these users would come out the other side, drug free. Her answer, all these people have rights, we cant force them to do what they dont want to do. Well that was nearly it for me, if the department of health really didnt care, why should I bust my boiler trying to fix the problem.

As for the suppliers, low level and high end, we did our best and were kept very very busy. We would conduct year long investigations, resulting in multiple arrests, large drug seizures and large asset seizures, but once this investigation was over, there was not rest for the wicked, straight back into the next one.

Some say give it away for free, therefore the criminals will no longer make millions of dollars out of other peoples misery. Sounds good, but IMO this is saying WE GIVE UP, and believe me this is NOT the answer.

We, should I say, they (police), will continue to battle this scourge the best way they can, but its one hell of a fight, that should never stop.

My heart goes out to those that have had to deal with this problem, and to those that have lost love ones.

I can truely say I/we did our best, and those still there carrying on this fight, will continue to do so.

I could write stories of specifics all day long but I wont. I wish I knew the answer that a lot of you are looking for, but I dont.

God help our children and our loved ones.

Cuppa · Guru

shakey55 wrote:
we cant force them to do what they dont want to do. Well that was nearly it for me, if the department of health really didnt care, why should I bust my boiler trying to fix the problem.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I'm afraid this shows a lack of understanding. Nothing whatsoever to do with not caring.
Reality is that anyone addicted to anything has to be motivated to give up their addiction. Without that motivation there is nothing anyone else can do.
I've worked in an alcohol rehab centre in the past. Many times family & loved ones & even social services pleaded for an addicted person to be admitted to the programme, & were frustrated by the requirement that the addicted person themselves must want to join the programme. Without that it is a waste of time.
If addicts could be successfully treated against their will I have no doubt that the Mental health act would be used to detain them to provide treatment.

Eaglemax · Guru

As a parent subjected to addicts when they go off their heads I've often wondered what I'd do if my child was indeed an addict. I've seen parents leave jails or the Alfred Hospital Melbourne, totally broken, at a loss as to what they can do and full of guilt. I imagined renting a cabin in the hills and imprisoning my child until I broke the back of the addiction. I'd probably do that. Rights or no rights. And hope they thanked me down the track...

dogbox · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:

As a parent subjected to addicts when they go off their heads I've often wondered what I'd do if my child was indeed an addict.
I've seen parents leave jails or the Alfred Hospital Melbourne, totally broken, at a loss as to what they can do and full of guilt.

I imagined renting a cabin in the hills and imprisoning my child until I broke the back of the addiction. I'd probably do that. Rights or no rights. And hope they thanked me down the track...

I have witnessed an overdose person that was pretty much dead when the paramedic administered narceine(?) the person woke up then abused the person who had just saved his life for ruining his high.

you can try to forcibly break the addiction but if they do not want to be helped, the first opportunity they will use again

deverall11 · Guru

IMHO too far down the line. Get it at the source and solve the problem down the line.
Yes it sound simplistic and almost naive but isn't this the way problems are resolved.

bowiebd · Member

I would like to thank shakey55 for the long hours, effort and hard work he
and the other police officers have, and are putting into this problem.

THANKS.

dorian · Guru

Cuppa wrote:
If addicts could be successfully treated against their will I have no doubt that the Mental health act would be used to detain them to provide treatment.

I would argue that meth addicts are a danger to others and should be detained on that basis. They have made a choice, and they should live with the consequences of that choice, not us.

Cuppa · Guru

dorian wrote:
Cuppa wrote:
If addicts could be successfully treated against their will I have no doubt that the Mental health act would be used to detain them to provide treatment.
I would argue that meth addicts are a danger to others and should be detained on that basis. They have made a choice, and they should live with the consequences of that choice, not us.

I have only known one meth addict & whilst I didn't like him much I don't consider hew was a danger to anyone.

Of course anyone who presents a risk to others should be prevented from being so, by detention if necessary, regardless of whether they are an addict or not.

I don't think anyone makes a conscious decision to become addicted, generally addiction is denied even when it is obvious to others & eventually by the time an addict recognises their addiction it is when they recognise that their addiction is a problem for them. Some want to change but often find it too difficult and are too scared to try.

Addiction generally is a failed means of hiding from something, of blocking something out & it is this which frequently presents the most significant obstacle to an addict who recognises their addiction, especially when the addict knows that their revelations may hurt others. It's not only the drug.

yobarr · Guru

bowiebd wrote:
I would like to thank shakey55 for the long hours, effort and hard work he
and the other police officers have, and are putting into this problem.

THANKS.

Agreed. Over the years I have had a few "interesting" encounters with Police, but we would be in big troubke without them.
Good post Shakey. Cheers

Gundog · Guru

What irks me is these crackpot polling, who promote the decriminalisation of hard drugs for personal use, but the frikin hypocrites are making it harder and dearer just to enjoy a dart, or even an e-fag because of the chemicals within those products can harm you,.

No shiit Sherlock that's right recreational don't harm you, where's to equality, its ok to have a happy havlock plant for personal use, but don't you dare grow a tobacco plant for personal use. Oh yeah their happy to collet the taxes on cigarettes.

I am a reformed smoker, but I defend the rights of those who wish to smoke to do so.

I feel that rule 303 should apply to drug smugglers and dealers.

Cupie · Guru

bowiebd wrote:
I would like to thank shakey55 for the long hours, effort and hard work he
and the other police officers have, and are putting into this problem.

THANKS.

Yes Me too