City's drug issue 'catastrophic' | Ipswich Crime | Robberies, Assaults and Convictions in Ipswich

IPSWICH is in the midst of a “catastrophic” drug problem according to a local alcoholism recovery officer.

Bruce Rae has run an Ipswich referral program, Alcoholism and Addiction Recovery Liaison Collective, for the past 10 years.

He said the city's current drug problem was diabolical after police cracked down on marijuana dealers and “dried out” the region's cannabis supplies.

Mr Rae said the marijuana drought had led to residents taking up speed and ice.

“The harder drugs are easier to get than weed now and kids will be kids, if they can't get weed they will try something else,” Mr Rae said.

“There's a catastrophic drug situation in Ipswich at the moment.”

Detective Senior Sergent Mick Trezise said police had carried out many successful drug operations on both cannabis and amphetamine dealers.

“We have had numerous successes,” Snr Sgt Trezise said.

“There has been more than 100 drug raids so far this year.

“We've raided a lot of hydroponic set-ups especially.”

Mr Rae said ice dealers in Ipswich were offering first-time users a free hit, because they knew they would be back for more within 24 hours.

“Amphetamines and speed are very common in Ipswich now,” Mr Rae said.

Just last week police seized an old bus allegedly fitted out as a clandestine methylamphetamine lab.

Police said the bus contained glassware, two burners, a quantity of cold and flu tablets, and pre-cursor chemicals - all of which were allegedly used to extract pseudoephedrine to make the drug ice.

Police had also allegedly uncovered a hydroponic set-up including lights, fans and growth chemicals.

Earlier this year Ipswich police operated a seven-day investigation into drugs, which netted 25 people on 138 charges including two people charged with drug trafficking.

Mr Rae said it was Ipswich's younger residents who were being lured to hard drugs.

“There's been a surge in the past few months of youth coming to my service, it's definitely the younger ones that are getting hooked on the drugs,” Mr Rae said.

“The state's rehabs and detox programs are filled up too, so there's not a lot of help for them.”