SW drug scene a "revolving door": cops

Busselton’s top cop has backed calls for a rehabilitation centre in the South West to stop a “revolving door process” of amphetamine use increasing instances of domestic violence and aggressive crime.

Health Minister Helen Morton told State Parliament last week she was aware of a recent increase in drug-related harm in the South West, particularly related to amphetamines.

Busselton police Senior Sergeant Steve Principe said his focus had been on illicit drugs from day one because of their big role in crime within the community.

“In this community I know for a fact that when I first got here it was being produced here,” he said.

“We worked very hard to target the manufacturers and most of those are in custody now, but we find that people were leaving Busselton and sourcing it elsewhere.

“We have to change tack because the people involved in the drug trade changed tack.

“People want a supply of illicit drugs and they’ll seek any way of getting it.”

Sen. Sgt Principe said Busselton needed a “one stop shop” to tackle the problem.

“You want a situation where we apprehend them, we put them through the courts, the courts then refer them to a rehab centre to get treatment … so at the end of the day, you stop that revolving door process, ” he said.

In Parliament, Ms Morton said samples of amphetamines being used from recent times had shown “the highest purity levels we have ever seen”.

She said waiting times for Perth’s two residential rehabilitation facilities varied from one to four weeks and a new rehabilitation service was necessary.

Fresh Start Recovery Program founder and addiction specialist Dr George O’Neil, who is opening a drug and alcohol respite centre at Locke Estate, said drug addiction in the area was rife.

“There just isn’t treatment around,” he said.

He said WA’s mining boom contributed to its “terrible amphetamine problem”.

“Busselton’s FIFO community are particularly prone to drug use,” he said.

There is also lots of alcohol abuse in Busselton. We’re treating lots of teenagers from the area.”

South West MLC Adele Farina said demand for South West Community Drug treatment services had almost doubled in the past 10 years.

“The South West is the most populous region outside the metropolitan area in the State and it is an indictment on this Government that there are no rehabilitation facilities located here, ” she said.

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