LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY ‘Ice’ Select Committee Breaking the Ice Inquiry into ‘ice’ use in the Northern Territory November 2015 National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Author: ‘Ice’ Select Committee Title: Breaking the Ice: inquiry into ‘ice’ use in the Northern Territory ISBN: 9780992589141 (paperback) Subjects: Ice (Drug)—Northern Territory. Drug abuse—Northern Territory. Other Authors/Contributors: Northern Territory. Legislative Assembly. ‘Ice’ Select Committee. Dewey Decimal Classification Notation: 362.299099429 Contents Contents Committee Members ................................................................................................................5 Committee Secretariat .............................................................................................................6 Acknowledgments ....................................................................................................................6 Acronyms and Abbreviations .................................................................................................7 Terms of Reference ..................................................................................................................9 Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 10 Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 13 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 17 Establishment of the Committee ........................................................................................ 17 Conduct of the Inquiry ................................................................................................... 17 2 Emergence of ‘Ice’ ............................................................................................ 18 What is ‘Ice’? ...................................................................................................................... 18 The Emergence of ‘Ice’ in Australia.................................................................................... 19 Importation, Manufacture and Distribution of ‘Ice’ .............................................................. 21 Manufacturing Process.................................................................................................. 25 Distribution .................................................................................................................... 30 3 Prevalence of ‘Ice’ Use in Australia ................................................................. 37 Data Collection Methodologies ........................................................................................... 37 Prevalence Rates ............................................................................................................... 39 Patterns and Profiles of Drug Use ................................................................................. 45 4 Effects of ‘Ice’ and Treatment Options ............................................................ 55 Physical and Psychological Harms .................................................................................... 55 Treatment of ‘Ice’ Use and Dependence ............................................................................ 61 Treatment Options in the Northern Territory ...................................................................... 69 Training and Safety of Frontline Workers...................................................................... 79 5 Social, Community and Environmental Impacts of ‘Ice’ ......................................... 85 Effects of ‘Ice’ Use on Families and Children ..................................................................... 85 Domestic Violence ......................................................................................................... 86 Neglect of Children ........................................................................................................ 87 The Impact of 'Ice' on Communities ................................................................................... 91 Criminal Offending Related to ‘Ice’ Use ........................................................................ 91 Drug Use in the Workplace ........................................................................................... 94 Environmental Impacts of 'Ice' ............................................................................................ 97 3 Breaking the Ice: inquiry into 'ice' use in the Northern Territory 6 Government and Community Responses to 'Ice' ......................................... 103 National Drug Strategy ..................................................................................................... 103 Jurisdictional Drug Strategies and Action Plans ......................................................... 107 Northern Territory Drug Strategy ................................................................................. 112 Media Campaigns ............................................................................................................. 114 Task Force Nemesis ......................................................................................................... 119 Community Responses to 'Ice' ......................................................................................... 123 7 Enhancing the NT’s Response to 'Ice' ........................................................... 126 Strategies to Combat 'Ice' ................................................................................................. 126 Demand Reduction Strategies .................................................................................... 126 Supply Reduction Strategies ....................................................................................... 131 Harm Reduction Strategies ......................................................................................... 135 Appendix 1: Submissions Received .................................................................................. 147 Appendix 2: Public Hearings, Private Briefings, Public Forums and Site Visits .......... 148 Appendix 3: Key Principles – National Drug Strategy 2016-2025 ................................... 151 Appendix 4: National Ice Taskforce Terms of Reference ................................................ 153 Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 155 Committee Members Committee Members Mr Nathan BARRETT MLA: Member for Blain Party: Country Liberals Parliamentary Position: Deputy Chairman of Committees Committee Membership Public Accounts, Estimates & Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny, Legal & Constitutional Standing: Affairs, Subordinate Legislation & Publications, House Select: ‘Ice’ ‘Ice’, Legal & Constitutional Affairs, Subordinate Chair: Legislation & Publications Mr Francis KURRUPUWU MLA: Member for Arafura Party: Country Liberals Committee Membership Select: ‘Ice’ Sessional: Northern Territory’s Energy Future Ms Lauren MOSS MLA: Member for Casuarina Party: Territory Labor Committee Membership Standing: House, Standing Orders, Members’ Interests Select: ‘Ice’ Deputy Chair: ‘Ice’ Mr Gerry WOOD MLA: Member for Nelson Party: Independent Parliamentary Position: Deputy Chairman of Committees Committee Membership Standing: Public Accounts, Estimates & Government Owned Corporations Scrutiny, Standing Orders, Members’ Interests Select: ‘Ice’ Sessional: Northern Territory’s Energy Future Deputy Chair: Northern Territory’s Energy Future 5 Breaking the Ice: inquiry into 'ice' use in the Northern Territory Committee Secretariat Committee Secretary: Julia Knight Senior Research Officer: Elise Dyer Administration/Research Officer: Lauren Copley-Orrock Administration Assistant: Kim Cowcher Contact Details: GPO Box 3721 DARWIN NT 0801 Tel: +61 08 8901 4148 Fax: +61 08 8941 2567 Email: [email protected] Acknowledgments The Committee acknowledges the individuals and organisations that provided written submissions or oral evidence and attended public hearings and the work of the Parliamentary Library Service for their research assistance. The Committee also wishes to thank management and staff of Banyan House, Venndale Rehabilitation Centre and BushMob for providing Committee members with an insight into service delivery within a residential facility. 6 Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms and Abbreviations AADANT Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT ACC Australian Crime Commission ADF Australian Drug Foundation AFP Australian Federal Police ADIS Alcohol and Drug Information Service AIHW Australian Institute of Health and Welfare AMT Alcohol Mandatory Treatment ANCD Australian National Council on Drugs ANSPS Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey AOD Alcohol and Other Drugs AODTS Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set NMDS APC Australian Press Council ATS Amphetamine-Type Stimulants BBV Blood Borne Virus COAG Council of Australian Governments CEPO Community Engagement Police Officer Court Referral and Evaluation for Drug Intervention and Treatment Northern CREDIT NT Territory DAISY Drug and Alcohol Intensive Support for Youth DAGJ Department of the Attorney-General and Justice DCF Department of Children and Families DASA Drug and Alcohol Services Association