CHILDREN as young as 10 are using the drug ice, according to Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service alcohol and drugs program manager Sid Barone.
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"It's only hearsay but I heard of one case (in Griffith) where a 10-year-old was using ice. It's very disturbing," Mr Barone said.
"If I have heard of one I can't imagine that being the only case."
Mr Barone said negotiations were continuing for the establishment of a methamphetamine clinic in early 2015.
"Ice use is a growing issue," he said.
"I'm told it's everywhere (in Griffith) and easy to get a hold of.
"It's very expensive but that's why we have a lot of crime."
Mr Barone said the average cost of ice was $100 per point.
"There are 10 points to the gram and a chronic user would average between two and three points a day," he said.
Mr Barone said ice use was a huge issue across Australia.
He said users could hallucinate and experience psychosis.
"One of the common threads is skin scratching and there are a lot of people who believe there's alien spiders laying eggs under their skin," Mr Barone said.
He said surprisingly this was a belief that ice users across the world shared.
"It's not like it's the same group of people who have this belief," he said
Mr Barone said he believed a percentage of the crimes committed in Griffith were carried out by drug users.
He said anyone who came face to face with someone committing a crime should call Triple 0 immediately.
"These people are highly wired, highly unpredictable and highly aggressive it's best not to engage them at all."
Mr Barone said he believed ice use had increased in the district over the past 10 years.
"We definitely need the clinic," he said.
Mr Barone said there was also a need for a local detoxification and rehabilitation facility in Griffith.
He said Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service was working in partnership with Griffith Community Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol (MHDA) Service to establish the clinic.