DRUG services advocate Kate Amoroso believes the need to address the ice scourge gripping the region is more desperate than ever and has urged the community to rally behind a petition for a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Mount Gambier.
Senator Nick Xenophon, who has been outspoken on the issue, will take the petition to the senate in August and make a renewed call to the Federal Government to fund an urgent rehabilitation centre.
Ms Amoroso said she believed the petition, which had already amassed over 4,000 signatures, was the best chance for South East residents to be heard and push for change.
“I’m hoping to have another 1500 signatures at least in the next five or six weeks before I present it to Mr Xenophon,” Ms Amoroso said.
“This is an opportunity for the community to push the issue and demand funding for a rehab facility.
“The support from the community since I launched the petition in March has been incredible and I’m so grateful to the businesses who collected signatures and to every individual who signed.
“Now in these last few weeks I hope community members will help me distribute, collect and send forms back to me so we can get as many signatures as possible.”
A reformed ice addict, Ms Amoroso said she had made it her mission to campaign for drug services in the region.
“I’m really proud that we are a proactive community – as far as I know we are leading the nation in terms of campaigning tirelessly for rehabilitation services,” she said.
“I’m on a mission to stand beside people and show them they can rebuild their lives and I truly believe that needs to start with rehabilitation.
“Rehabilitation might not work for everyone but we need to at least give people the opportunity to try to turn their lives around.”
Ms Amoroso said state and federal government funded initiatives including the national ice taskforce and ‘Stop the Hurt’ action plan had failed to adequately address the issue.
“Most of the key measures outlined in these plans focus on law enforcement rather than rehabilitation,” she said.
“When will the government stop spending money on glossy campaigns and research and start spending on the actual problem?”
“The hundreds of thousands of dollars they have been spending on additional drug dogs, drug testing resources and the ‘dob in a dealer’ campaign could have funded rehabilitation facilities in regional centres nationwide.”
With “nowhere else to go” Ms Amoroso said countless locals battling drug addiction had approached her begging for help.
“I have had residents as young as 11 years old up to 65 years old ask for my help in overcoming ice addiction,” she said.
“We need at least 20 beds here – Weatherill announced this month the state government would fund 15 regional rehab beds across the entire state – that was a kick in the guts.
“My personal promise to the people of Mount Gambier is that I will not stop fighting until we have a rehab facility and detox beds.”
Email enoughisenough5290@gmail.com to support the campaign.
