Wagga 'needs' drug court to counteract devastating impacts

The comments come in the wake of the recent research showing drug court participants were found to have a 17 per cent lower reoffending rate.

Professor Don Weatherburn, who led the study, said the results were remarkable given the profile of those dealt with by the NSW Drug Court and the length of time that had passed since treatment.

In the past, Wagga has been dubbed as the "ice capital", an image that could be hard to shake when in the year to June 2020, there were 620 recorded drug offences in the LGA, up from 511 in the previous 12 months.

Matthew Beckmans, a senior associate at Coulter Roche, previously advocated for the specialised court while working in the region after having grown up in Wagga.

Despite having moved to Victoria, he continues to champion the cause, adding it is "concerning" Wagga Local Court has yet to be given powers to exercise a drug court.

"Wagga also has a lot of property crimes which we know has a connection with drug dependency," Mr Beckmans said.

"It is a no-brainer to see the institution of a drug court."

Mr Beckmans acknowledged Wagga's chapter of the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment program which provides the opportunity for adult defendants with substance abuse problems to work, voluntarily, towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process.

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But, Mr Beckmans said MERIT only deals with those who commit drug-related crimes as opposed to those who engage in other criminal behaviour and have a drug dependency.

"The inherent nature of the drug court is that it requires the intervention of medical practitioners and other services," he said.

"It is a therapeutic response to crime - one that Wagga needs."

Riverina Police District Superintendent Bob Noble said drug possession and use within the Riverina is without a doubt "prolific".

"I think the problem is a lot more widespread than a lot of people realise," he said.

"There would be many more people who take illegal drugs that actually never come to the attention of police."

Superintendent Noble said a multi-faceted approach is required to reduce the harm of illegal substances.

He said while a drug court could be a welcome addition, it is not the only tool required and emphasised the need for adults to set the example for young people.