- Young children, including newborn babies, are being taken away from parents
- In the past year 782 children had at least one parent addicted to the drug ice
- Some women who take ice during pregnancy have baby taken away immediately
Every day, two young children are taken away from their ice-addicted parents and put in the care of child safety officers.
Methamphetamine has become the most used drug in Queensland households, forcing children into the care of welfare workers.
Child Safety Department Deputy Director-General Merrilyn Strohfeldt told the Courier Mail ice use among parents was getting worse.
Methamphetamine (pictured) has become the most used drug in Queensland households, forcing children into the care of welfare workers
Every day, two young children are taken away from their ice-addicted parents and put in the care of child safety officers (stock image)
‘It’s the most vulnerable little people who get hurt in all of this, but I do want to say that our staff do a tremendous job in keeping them safe,’ Ms Strohfeldt said.
In the past year, 782 children had at least one parent using the deadly drug, including some mothers who failed to stop using ice during pregnancies.
A source told the publication a number of newborn babies had been taken away from ice-addicted mothers straight after birth because the women are ‘high unlikely’ to be able to look after newborns.
‘This is a very big issue for communities … cabinet is finalising our plan to tackle ice in our communities,’ Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told reporters Monday.
During the November election campaign, Labor promised $16.4 million to fund four years of drug and alcohol treatments in the state.
Liberal National Party Leader Deb Frecklington discussed the ice epidemic at a forum in Toowoomba, Queensland, on Monday.
In the past year, 782 children had at least one parent using the deadly drug, including some mothers who failed to stop using ice during pregnancies (stock image)