STATISTICS show that ice, or Crystal Methamphetamine, is the biggest drug crisis in Australia currently and it is hitting rural and regional Australia the hardest.

Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland is responding to the ice crisis affecting the rural communities of Roma, St George and Surat with the appointment of a regional Project ICE Co-ordinator.

Lifeline Darling Downs CEO Derek Tuffield said the need for support in these areas has become a high priority over the past nine months.

“Ice is having a devastating impact on these towns, and is impacting on relationships, families, employers and sporting clubs,” Mr Tuffield said.

“Lifeline wants to work with these communities to combat the associated problems of the impact of ice on individuals and on the community as a whole.

“We have named this project ‘True Grit’, because it will take true grit to effectively tackle the impact of ice on rural communities.

“This drug is so far-reaching it is a case of when, not if it will affect people and the aim of this project is to build on the region’s capacity to respond to the ice crisis and minimise harm.”

Lifeline is working in collaboration with Centacare Toowoomba, Maranoa Regional Council, Balonne and Bulloo Shire Councils as well as other key community groups including Roma and District Rugby League Football Club.

He said Lifeline hopes to engage as many individuals and groups as it can to join in their campaign against ice.

For more information and to register your interest, or to support this program through a donation, phone Lifeline Darling Downs on 1300991443.