The mother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she had not heard from her son since a recent incident in which Nowra police were called to the Shoalhaven District Memorial Hospital to arrest the 18-year-old who was being treated for ice use when he became aggressive.

He fled the scene but was caught on Sunday, November 2, taken to prison and put into remedial seclusion to await a court hearing the following Friday.

The boy’s mother said he appeared in court via video link and was still affected by the drug.

“He was very distressed, agitated and aggravated,” she said.

“As a result his case was adjourned until the following Monday.

“Over that weekend he had an episode and was put into a safe cell so he did not harm himself.

“I had hoped he would be sentenced with a court order to go to rehab.”

But that wasn’t the case.

“I was advised not to go to the court on the Monday,” his mother said.

“He was issued with a good behaviour bond, a fine and was released from prison that afternoon.

“I’ve looked into it and it means he doesn’t even have to check into a drug and alcohol unit or anything.

“It’s ridiculous. He is an addict.”

The mother, clearly distressed, said when her son was leaving prison he called to ask for a lift.

“By the time I got there someone had beaten me to it,” she said.

“When they release someone from prison they give them ‘crisis money’ for the length of time they were in there.

“They also give them cash-in-hand when they leave to use on things like a taxi – I’m sure a lot of people use this money wisely, but again my son is an addict.”

She has not been able to contact him.

“He has no phone,” she said.

“I’m concerned, but I can’t know for sure, that he has gone on a drug bender with the money.

“And this is the justice system – I just don’t understand it. 

“It’s like they don’t seem to realise what someone on ice is like.”

The mother said if the same judge who had seen her son via video link had issued the sentence on the Monday she was sure he would have been sent to rehab.

“The next judge didn’t see the state he was in,” she said.

“It’s a cycle and it just keeps repeating itself.

“He has stolen from us. He lies. He has changed so much.”

She said there was no sign of the young, healthy boy he used to be. “He used to be a great body boarder,” she said.

“He’s gone from that to a thief, drug addicted, nasty and violent and someone who has no respect for me or anyone else.

“I had to take an AVO out against him because he has been abusive with me.”

The boy’s mother said his ice addiction has destroyed her family.

“People just don’t understand what it is like living with an ice addict,” she said.

“It is no easy task. I’d like to think my son would never hurt me, but this drug really changes everything – he wouldn’t even realise he was harming me.

“When he is on it he is very angry, his co-ordination goes, he can’t think straight and he would just crash – for three days at a time, just sleep.” 

She said after his crash he would wake up and get another hit.

“He has been taking the drug since he was 15,” she said.

“He was introduced to it by a 30-year-old man.

“In the early years I thought he was taking marijuana but he fessed up and told me he was taking ice.”

His mother sent him to Queensland, but to no avail.

“He found it there too and now here we are.”

The mother said her main point in speaking out about her son is to make others aware of how serious the ice epidemic is in the area and how it is affecting families and the community.

“I really want to make parents aware of a community meeting/forum that’s coming up for parents and families affected by children on ice.”

The forum will be held on Thursday, November 20 at 7.30pm at the Nowra School of Arts in Berry Street. 

Two drug forums spread the word

ANOTHER free forum on alcohol and other drug related issues is to be held in Nowra next Tuesday, less than a week after the community meeting organised by Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis.

The Times Are Changing travelling road show is a collaborative initiative between Shoalhaven Community Drug Action Team (CDAT), South Coast Medical Services Aboriginal Corporation, Wandarma Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Service, Oolong House Men’s Rehabilitation Service and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District. 

The aim of the forum is to provide a safe space for service providers, health and welfare workers, parents, teachers and the Aboriginal community to come together and get information on current trends and to learn about alcohol and other drug issues affecting Aboriginal people. 

Presenters from a variety of services, including the First Step Program, will discuss alcohol and drug use, harm reduction and how services are changing to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities. Local organisations such as the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation will showcase their services.

The Times Are Changing Shoalhaven forum will be held at the Nowra Showground Tuesday, November 25 from 9.30am to 3.30pm. 

Everyone is welcome to come for the full day, or just come for part of the day. Catering is provided.

For further information or to register, phone Natalie Beckett on 0418 549 365.