THREE brave ladies have decided to take action against Moree’s drug problem.
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Kerry Cassells, Dawn Blanch and Linda Maidens, have decided there is not enough being done in Moree about the problem so have started a petition to bring to the attention of members of the legislative assembly of New South Wales, for the request of a MERIT (Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment) program.
“The petition has gone to businesses in Moree such as newsagents, the Commonwealth bank, Greenbah and Amaroo stores, pubs, Omega cafe and we’ve also spread it out to places such as Mungindi, Boggabilla, Warialda, Wee Waa, Gurley, Bellata, Narrabri and all the places that come into custody in Moree,” Kerry said.
The three women have all had family members gripped by the popular-growing drug methyl amphetamines, better known as ice.
“Where I work, the community I live in, the families we have, we’ve seen it all. It’s a revolving door of drug users coming into custody for break and enters, common assault and domestic violence offences so they come in, they get dry,” Kerry said.
“Whist in custody everything is sweet, they don’t have to steal for their food, they get meals three times a day, they’ve got companionship with like-minded people and they have a social life. Many end up in custody with their brothers, fathers, uncles and extended family members,” she said.
“Whilst in there they feel safe, they have their life planned out and it is very institutionalised. As soon as they get outside, the same thing keeps happening to them. They can’t say no, they don’t have the coping skills to say no. They have no help, no-one to go to so they get straight back onto it,” Kerry said.
There are 10,000 signatures needed for the petition to be tabled in parliament.
“The main stakeholders are aware of the petition and support the MERIT program running in Moree,” Kerry said.
Linda explained how the MERIT program worked.
“It’s a court diversion program, so adults who’ve been charged with offences in local court, excluding stricly indictable offences, are either identified by the magistrate, solicitors, police or themselves to undertake the program before their final court hearing,” she said.
“There’s a specific MERIT team, drug and alcohol workers, who work with the offenders for three months and is funded by the attorney general’s department. The referral is done before their first court offence. The magistrate says the person can get assessed and if suitable, the program finishes before their final court appearance,” Linda explained.
“If they complete the MERIT program it is very favourable on their behalf because the magistrate receives a weekly report of the offender’s behaviour and progress,” she said.
Whilst in the program, participants may be sent away for a detox, but a lot of the program is completed in the local community.
“Basically the program gives them the coping skills within the community so they break the cycle and can stay in their home town, drug-free,” Linda said.
Kerry said community members needed to take a “good look” at what was happening within the town.
“There is an ice epidemic happening in our town. It is a huge law and order issue in our community. Our local people are suffering because their houses are being broken into, possessions are being stolen, assaults are rising, and dangerous people are walking the streets. Anyone reading this could become a victim so please think about it and sign it,” Kerry said.
The Moree Champion also has copies of the petition on the front counter of the office.