A GRANDMOTHER at the centre of an emotional drug-fuelled family feud has thrown support behind growing calls for a specialist drug squad in Wagga.
The mother of four, who tirelessly fears for her two-year-old grandson’s life being raised by ice-addicted parents, says immediate steps must be taken to tackle the drug scourge that continues to tear local families apart.
Two of the woman’s sons are ice addicts.
She now fears her son’s expectant partner will give birth to an ice-addicted baby, compounding the neglect the couple already show toward their other children, including the woman’s grandson.
The woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, has fallen completely out of touch with her 26-year-old ice-addicted son and constantly hopes her 23-year-old son will be a different story.
“It’s just horrific,” she said.
“He used to be the most lovely, kindest person. Now I’m scared of him, absolutely terrified of him.
“He’s just a completely different person.”
The woman is at heads with the Department of Community Services (DOCS) to have custody over her grandson because she believes he is being “neglected everday” by his parents whose lives are driven by their deadly addiction.
Because of the destruction ice has caused her son and his partner, the woman’s grandson is always sick and never gets taken to the doctor or hospital for treatment.
“It just breaks my heart,” she said.
“It (the drug problem) is most definitely getting worse.”
The woman has backed calls for a dedicated police squad in Wagga, with Wagga Councillor Paul Funnell launching a petition last week to deliver one sergeant and four officers to the Wagga local area command in the next budget.
“We need to do something,” the woman said.
“It breaks me.
“It breaks my heart.”
June’s Strike Force Calyx, an anti-drug operation led by 110 officers, uncovered the true extent of the city’s drug problem with mass arrests and hundreds of charges laid.
Now, Cr Funnell says, is the time to act.
Petitions, currently located at the Advertiser, Kincaid Street Takeaway, Scribbles Cafe and Don Tuckwell Audio, have already garnered “several hundred signatures”, Cr Funnell said.
At least 10,000 signatures are needed before it goes to parliament.
