ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
'Where are your pants?' Kerri-Anne Kennerly insults Studio 10 reporter
Watch 0:17

'Where are your pants?' Kerri-Anne Kennerly insults Studio 10 reporter

{headline}

{headline}

Mum on meth: stress made me an ice addict

Mum on meth: stress made me an ice addict

ICE-FUELLED driver killed mum and 18-year-old daughter in CHRISTMAS DAY crash

ICE-FUELLED driver killed mum and 18-year-old daughter in CHRISTMAS DAY crash

I fell in love with my friend - and we share the same man!

I fell in love with my friend - and we share the same man!

Mum’s Boxing Day horror: I had to choose which son to save

Mum’s Boxing Day horror: I had to choose which son to save

{headline}

{headline}

My Christmas fling gave me TWINS!

My Christmas fling gave me TWINS!

Man tucks into KFC right next to vegan protestors in Sydney CBD

Man tucks into KFC right next to vegan protestors in Sydney CBD

Incredible boss hands out over $14 million to 198 staff at Christmas party

Incredible boss hands out over $14 million to 198 staff at Christmas party

{headline}

{headline}

Mum with newborn comes back to her car to find a vile not left on it

Mum with newborn comes back to her car to find a vile not left on it

Paedophile is jailed for raping and choking 14-year-old girl

Paedophile is jailed for raping and choking 14-year-old girl

Man pulls nine-metre living tapeworm out of his own backside

Man pulls nine-metre living tapeworm out of his own backside

Blind and deaf Adelaide dog named 'Brandy' PUT DOWN after living in her own FAECES

Blind and deaf Adelaide dog named 'Brandy' PUT DOWN after living in her own FAECES

Mum accused of filming herself sexually abusing her son, 5, for paedophile boyfriend

Mum accused of filming herself sexually abusing her son, 5, for paedophile boyfriend

Family farewells Brisbane twins who died after tragic accident

Family farewells Brisbane twins who died after tragic accident

Firefighters write ADORABLE note after protecting shelter animals from bushfire

Firefighters write ADORABLE note after protecting shelter animals from bushfire

  1. Home
  2. Real Life

The Aussie town with ice addicts as young as 10

The small town has a dark underbelly. - by Georgia Mars
  • 11 Dec 2017
The Aussie town with ice addicts as young as 10

In a new exposé conducted by The Courier Mail into ice, one of Australia's most damaging illicit drugs, shocking new evidence that authorities are failing to take control of the epidemic has been uncovered.

In the four month investigation it was revealed that the ongoing surge of ice-related problems has placed police, courts, hospitals and community services under severe stress, with many reporting the drug is the number one problem they are facing. 

Most shockingly, the investigation uncovered a small Australian town, St George, as one of the most affected cities in our country. 

The small farming town, nestled 550km away from the nearest major city in Queensland, has a population of just 3000 and is home to an ice epidemic of major proportions. 

In the shocking investigation it was revealed that children as young as 10 are addicted to the drug, teenagers are believed to be being force-fed the drug and family homes have become drug dens.

In the report, one 14-year-old girl was medicated with ice because she complained she was too tired at school each day as her parents' constant drug-fueled benders were keeping her up at night. 

Robyn Fuhrmeister, the chairwoman of community support group Care Balonne, told the Courier Mail, 'One of the aunties has actually given her ice to keep her awake.'

Fuhrmeister reveals the young teen then had a fit the next day in front of her classmates. 

Senior Sergeant Paul Tabrett at St George police station

Senior Sergeant Paul Tabrett at St George police station

Gary Ramage

According to the investigation, the ice epidemic has created a 'ripple effect' throughout the small town of St George. Young students are emotionally unprepared to attend school and charities have withdrawn their support as food stamps were being exchanged for the drug. 

Discarded syringes are also reportedly found scattered throughout the town, often found discarded on playgrounds and in letterboxes. 

The investigation also told the story of a woman addicted to the drug who gave birth to a baby, only for it to be taken away immediately after. This was the sixth child the woman has had to hand over her child to authorities. 

Arrests have almost quadrupled in the past three years, going from 65 in 2014 to a whipping 235 in the past 12 months, the investigation revealed. 

The investigation also revealed that most hide their drugs in their children's nappies, as police are less likely to search there. 

Detective Sergeant Isa Tolete said, 'The majority of our jobs here are ice related. I'm not going to sugarcoat it.'  

Studio 10 on Twitter

This article originally appeared on New Idea.

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

LESS THAN $4.17 AN ISSUE - TRY IT TODAY!

Subscribe Now
That's Life Mega Monthly!

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

LESS THAN $4.17 AN ISSUE - TRY IT TODAY!

Subscribe Now
That's Life Mega Monthly!

Recommended to you

'Where are your pants?' Kerri-Anne Kennerly insults Studio 10 reporter
Watch 0:17

'Where are your pants?' Kerri-Anne Kennerly insults Studio 10 reporter

{headline}

{headline}

Mum on meth: stress made me an ice addict

Mum on meth: stress made me an ice addict

ICE-FUELLED driver killed mum and 18-year-old daughter in CHRISTMAS DAY crash

ICE-FUELLED driver killed mum and 18-year-old daughter in CHRISTMAS DAY crash

I fell in love with my friend - and we share the same man!

I fell in love with my friend - and we share the same man!

Mum’s Boxing Day horror: I had to choose which son to save

Mum’s Boxing Day horror: I had to choose which son to save

{headline}

{headline}

My Christmas fling gave me TWINS!

My Christmas fling gave me TWINS!

Man tucks into KFC right next to vegan protestors in Sydney CBD

Man tucks into KFC right next to vegan protestors in Sydney CBD

Incredible boss hands out over $14 million to 198 staff at Christmas party

Incredible boss hands out over $14 million to 198 staff at Christmas party

{headline}

{headline}

Mum with newborn comes back to her car to find a vile not left on it

Mum with newborn comes back to her car to find a vile not left on it

Paedophile is jailed for raping and choking 14-year-old girl

Paedophile is jailed for raping and choking 14-year-old girl

Man pulls nine-metre living tapeworm out of his own backside

Man pulls nine-metre living tapeworm out of his own backside

Blind and deaf Adelaide dog named 'Brandy' PUT DOWN after living in her own FAECES

Blind and deaf Adelaide dog named 'Brandy' PUT DOWN after living in her own FAECES

Mum accused of filming herself sexually abusing her son, 5, for paedophile boyfriend

Mum accused of filming herself sexually abusing her son, 5, for paedophile boyfriend

Family farewells Brisbane twins who died after tragic accident

Family farewells Brisbane twins who died after tragic accident

Firefighters write ADORABLE note after protecting shelter animals from bushfire

Firefighters write ADORABLE note after protecting shelter animals from bushfire

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Pacific Magazines
  • Partners
  • 7Plus
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Pacific Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Instyle
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Health
  • Men’s Health
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
© 2019 Pacific Magazines
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

That's Life Mega Monthly! -SAVE UP TO 20%

Shop This Offer
That's Life Mega Monthly!