NINE out of 10 ice addicts who seek help for their substance abuse problem fall back into the drug’s grip, according to a leading addictions therapist.
Ian Smith, a Sydney-based addictions therapist, told the Wagga Ice Forum on Thursday night those figures showed “the odds are stacked against” addicts.
“Once you taste it, you want it forever,” he said.
“An ice addict will always be an addict – for the rest of their life, they’re on a recovery journey.”
Mr Smith painted a picture for the forum of just how insidious the drug's grip had on users and discussed how best to help those ensnared by ice recover. That recovery process, he said, typically takes a year or more.
“Real long-term change only happens when the ice user takes responsibility,” Mr Smith said.
