A FORMER Wagga ice addict has demanded the federal government consult with reformed users on the most effective way to allocate its $300 million ice package to avoid an “ignorant band-aid fix”.
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Jay Morris is calling for a prevention-over-policing approach to tackling the epidemic, by increasing education around drug abuse for would-be users and affected families.
The 24-year-old fell victim to ice’s wrath when he started using in 2012.
What followed was 18 months of “hell”, as he transformed from a successful young travel agent into a completely different person living under a bridge, fuelled only by how and when he would get his next hit.
He’d prostitute himself out to feed his $700-a-day habit, while his frightening addiction scared away family and friends.
After a further 18 months of rehabilitation at Calvary Drug and Alcohol Centre, Mr Morris has since been clean for 1.5 years.
“The money needs to be spent on education starting in schools,” he said.
“I can say from personal experience if I was taught the impact, I’d be in a different situation to where I am today.
“At the moment, they’re not really fixing the problem because when people feel isolated, that’s when they use.”
Unveiled in December, the government’s four-year ice action plan aims to improve treatment, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle the ice scourge.
Mr Morris believes education should be tackled from two levels: users and their families.
“I stayed with my grandparents (when I was using),” he said.
“They gave me a bed, money, so were enabling me. I now say to people, would you rather kill your son yourself or let them take that path them self?”
Mr Morris believed money should also go toward increasing resources, after he waited two months to be admitted to a Sydney clinic. He said regional areas were even more under-resourced.