In 2015, then Prime Minister Tony Abbott launched a national task force in an effort to tackle the rapidly growing and deadly scourge of crystal methamphetamine - also known as ice.
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The war on drugs as it became known, was in response to what Mr Abbott labelled "a national menace".
The highly addictive drug was taking over communities, with the widespread impacts being felt hardest in rural areas.
Health professionals warned entire generations could be at risk, with makeshift laboratories turning out the drug and dealers pushing it to those most vulnerable.
It didn't take long for the prevalence of ice-related crimes to rise. A new war had begun. But the problem had been brewing for years. In Tasmania, Smithton was highlighted as an Australia-wide hotspot of methamphetamine usage in the mid 2010s. Reports showed that 10 per cent of drug users were turning to ice.
But with some fresh government funding and a renewed national focus, education campaigns were quickly put in place warning young people about the dangers of substance abuse. At the same time, treatment centres were established to help those already addicted.
Now, in 2021, we are starting to see some of the impacts - at least anecdotally, when you speak to those working in the communities hardest hit.
As pointed out by Rural Health Tasmania's Rob Waterman, addressing drug use was always going to be a long-term strategy and "it was unreasonable to expect changes within a few terms of a government".
While some argue the war on drugs has failed, he says Tasmania, particularly hard-hit areas like Smithton, are now starting to see strong, positive generational change when it comes to drug use.
And, his claims are supported by data. The 2019 National Household Drug Strategy survey, conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing a decrease in the amount of Tasmanian drug users above the age of 14 using methamphetamines - down 1.5 per cent.
But you only have to look at the rate of drug-fuelled crimes that go through Tasmania's courts to know that ice remains a significant problem in our community. It also remains one of the top three drugs driving people to seek treatment.
Further, the amount of ice seized by Northern Tasmanian police between April 1 and December 1 last year - more than 1000 grams - was about double the amount seized in the same time the year before. Clearly the war is far from over.
But early intervention, law enforcement and accessible treatment options remain among our greatest line of defence.
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