WHEN Terry Johnson realised his son was addicted to ice, he went through two months of “hell” trying to find help.
It was nearly 12 months ago when the Wangaratta father made the desperate decision to go to the police, because health organisations would ask “what was the police involvement” when he sought their services.
The difficulty of recalling his son David’s ordeal became apparent when Mr Johnson choked up as he told the emotional story at Gateway Health yesterday.
He spoke as a part of Daniel Andrews’ visit to Wangaratta to address the epidemic of the drug ice that has taken a hold on so many lives.
“I’ve never been to hell and I don’t want to go there, but I’d say that’s the experience it was, there was just no way out,” Mr Johnson said.
“It breaks families up, we have got a strong family relationship with the other kids, but he sought help, he knew that he was at a situation where he couldn’t go any further, he needed help but we just couldn’t get it locally.
“It was a very desperate move (going to the police) and I have only just told him in the last month that it was me who dobbed him in, so to speak.”
Mr Johnson welcomed the Victorian government’s Ice Action Plan which was developed with the advice of Victoria Police and health and legal experts.
He said he would like to see some of the $45.5 million in funding for the state go towards a detox centre and a rehabilitation centre similar to Odyssey House in Molyullah for Wangaratta.
“I think it is terrific, we definitely need funding in the North East, not just Wangaratta, for the drug users to get them on the road to recovery, that’s the main thing,” he said.
“I hope no one has to face this really, but we just need a detox centre and programs in place where we can get them back to their normal life.”
Mr Johnson’s son was 32 years old when he first got help for his addiction.
He believes his son may have dabbled in other drugs before he tried, and then became addicted to, ice.
“I didn’t really know people who had taken drugs and become dependent on them but I now know first hand and it is devastating,” he said.
“He was a completely different person, but he is getting back.
“It’s been nearly 12 months now, but it takes two years for full recovery I’m told, but I’d say he is 80 or 90 per cent there.”
