“In Queensland anecdotal evidence suggests that in some places methamphetamine use is ripping our communities apart. Our local communities and community-controlled health sector and residential rehabilitation service members, need support and opportunities to partner with government and non-government organisations in order to be proactive and to get on top of this issue before it grows any larger.
Sandy Gillies from the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC).
Queensland’s peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health body has strongly welcomed the COAG communique on a National Ice Action Strategy released yesterday.
“Our communities across Australia are being challenged daily from increased use of this drug and we are pleased that COAG has recognized the urgency of a response,” said Sandy Gillies from the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC).
“We need a comprehensive national strategy to deal with rising rates of ICE use and I think the Communique and its “six areas of action” indicates that COAG has got the priorities right. “These six areas mirror the key priorities determined by QAIHC in a document we provided to the Queensland Government some weeks ago,” she said. QAIHC’s Ice options paper identified the following key priorities:
- Dedicated research into the nature, prevalence and culture of methamphetamine use in Queensland Indigenous communities.
- A coordinated and resourced Indigenous ICE prevention strategy.
- A specially designed state-wide media information campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of ICE in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Improved training for an ICE (poly drug) competent, confident and connected workforce across the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.
- Specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detox and treatment services including residential rehabilitation facilities.
Ms Gillies said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health sector and residential rehabilitation service are best placed to develop and implement local initiatives with the committed support of Government and key stakeholders.
“In Queensland anecdotal evidence suggests that in some places methamphetamine use is ripping our communities apart. Our local communities and community-controlled health sector and residential rehabilitation service members, need support and opportunities to partner with government and non-government organisations in order to be proactive and to get on top of this issue before it grows any larger.
QAIHC is organising a Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ICE Roundtable on 11 September in Brisbane to further develop a state-wide response to growing ICE use and its effects on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities.
Ms Gillies said the roundtable will identify local community initiatives which contribute to evidence and address the harmful effects of ICE.
Frontline Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, state and Federal politicians, the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Health and specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health researchers will be invited to participate and provide input towards a robust and inclusive state wide response.
The drug ICE will also be on the agenda at the NACCHO National Male Health Ochre Day Summit
Register now HERE
what i do for the young indigenous kids in perth is take them and get implants into them these implants really work i have got one myself what they do is block the brain from the urge to use ice it takes the edge off i have not used since ive had the implant and the 3 people i have taken there the same the cost of this is 6000 dollars but the cost for us indigenous people is zero yes that is right nothing so lets all of us take advantage of this i do this service for free for the love of my people if you need anymore info please feel free to contact me yours in the struggle DFA