By ANEEKA SIMONIS
ICE use has skyrocketed since it came onto the scene in Cardinia shire and abuse rates of prescription medications are also slowly creeping up, police drug data reveals.
The findings come as police announce the launch of a specialised drug taskforce to investigate suspicious drug-related activities in Cardinia shire, Casey and Greater Dandenong in the next few weeks.
The 2006-16 data shows that cannabis is the most widely-used drug however, the use and possession of methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, appears to have risen far more than any other drug.
Data shows that ice was not a problem in Cardinia shire until 2012 when a small amount was first detected. Its use rose rapidly and began to soar from 2014.
In 2016, use increased by 50 per cent on the previous year.
Crime rates show 90 in 100,000 people were found using or in possession of the drug in Cardinia shire.
Prescription drugs such as addictive pain-killer Endone ranked as the fourth most common illegally used drug detected by police.
They are being used for illicit personal use and re-sale, according to Pakenham police Senior Sergeant Graeme Stanley.
Figures show that gateway drug cannabis is still popular and how ice use has soared.
Figures show that those who were found in possession of prescription drugs were also likely to be using a cocktail of other drugs.
Only 20 per cent of users were carrying out prescription drug offences compared to almost half, or 48 per cent who were recorded as using at least two additional drugs with prescription drugs.
The same trend was not detected in other drugs.
A drug investigation unit has been formed to crack down on drug offenders in Cardinia shire, Casey and Greater Dandenong.
The divisional response unit is expected to start in mid-August and will focus on gathering intelligence and investigating suspicious drug-related activity in the southern metropolitan region.
