The year 2024 has been one of the most challenging in AAIC's history. Despite our best efforts, recent wastewater reports continue to reveal a heartbreaking reality, Australians are among the highest per capita users of ICE in the world.

This stark fact lays bare the ongoing and ever-growing crisis that continues to grip our communities. As these troubling statistics persist, we find ourselves more determined than ever to confront this epidemic head-on and provide the education and support that is desperately needed.

The impact of this crisis is felt most acutely by our young people. In particular, a June 2020 report by Bob Gee, the then Director-General of the Department of Youth Justice, revealed a devastating truth: a staggering 83% of serious youth crimes were committed by teenagers who were using ICE. This number is more than just a statistic; it represents real lives—young people whose futures are being stolen by addiction.

These young lives, their families, and our communities are all suffering as a result of this vicious cycle. ICE is not just a drug—it is a destroyer of futures, and its effects ripple outward, undermining the fabric of our society.

As we face this growing epidemic, we feel the urgency of our work more than ever. The need for comprehensive, community-based interventions is clear. We cannot afford to wait; the time for action is now..