More than 50 dealers of methamphetamine are currently active in the Naracoorte area, with one allegedly moving $14,000 worth per week, it has been claimed.

In recent weeks, The [Naracoorte Community] News has been approached by several concerned residents claiming consumption of the illicit drug is growing in the local area.

One such source, who spoke to The [Naracoorte Community] News on the condition of anonymity, claimed more than 50 active methamphetamine dealers were operating in Naracoorte, with peddlers also selling the product in Lucindale, Bordertown, Keith, and Mount Gambier.

The source said one dealer was so well known he had been nicknamed “the doctor”.

“They call him that because he fixes everybody, supposedly,” they said. 

The source claimed methamphetamine had become increasingly prominent in Naracoorte in recent years.

“The group of people that I know who are users, are now dealing it more to younger people,” they said.

“It’s so easy to get hold of it if you wanted to.

“This needs to be dealt with so people don’t get addicted at a young age and we can stop it as soon as it starts.”

The anonymous source claimed they submitted a list of 12 dealers’ names and addresses to the Naracoorte Police Station in July last year.

The source claimed they were told – by the station administrator – to expect a follow-up regarding the submission, but to date they are still to be contacted.

The source claims local police told them to lodge a formal report through the Crime Stoppers website but was warned their computer IP address could potentially be traced back to them.

“At the time I was worried for my safety so I didn’t go through with it,” they said.

The source said numerous tragic incidents had occurred locally in relation to methamphetamine abuse, including overdose, suicides, car accidents, and ongoing domestic violence.

When asked by The [Naracoorte Community] News if it received the alleged list of dealers, SAPOL declined to comment.

The [Naracoorte Community] News also requested the number of meth-related arrests and reports made in Naracoorte over the last three years, as well as the number of known dealers in the township.

SAPOL said such data could either “not be extracted at all” or needed to be sought through a Freedom of Information request.

However, SAPOL confirmed the use of illicit drugs was an issue in the region.

“Limestone Coast Local Service Area continues to work with the community to identify those who choose to bring drugs into our community and encourages the community to report such activity to police,” a spokesperson said.

“The impact drugs has on any community can be far-reaching, not only for the individual but to families, employers and of course the social impacts to communities.”

Substance Misuse Limestone Coast project officer Sophie Bourchier said the organisation had no initiatives planned to help reduce methamphetamine use in the region, as alcohol abuse was the “number one” concern.

“Naracoorte is no different to any other regional town in the state in terms of methamphetamine use,” Ms Bourchier said.

“We know there is a problem with methamphetamine use, but there’s a bigger problem with alcohol use.”

A spokesperson for SA Health said it was unable to determine the number of people who had presented to Naracoorte Hospital with meth-related health issues in the last year.

The Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) also declined to comment

on any health issues arising from methamphetamine consumption in the region.

“It’s not for the local health network to comment on drug use in the area,” an SA Health spokesperson said.

Ambulance Employees Association state councillor for Limestone Coast, Andrew Smith, said though paramedics were faced with meth-related health issues, it was “not a significant part” of their workload.

“There’s obviously an interaction with mental health patients and drug abuse, but certainly not to the extent you’d see in metropolitan areas,” Mr Smith said.

“It’s there and it’s always going to be there, but it’s not a massive problem.”

Mr Smith said it was difficult for paramedics to determine whether a patient was presenting to hospital as a result of methamphetamine.

“Many of the mental health patients we see have some form of drug addiction so it’s often very difficult to identify what was the cause and what’s an effect,” he said.

Mr Smith said he would like to see more readily available mental health support and resources for Limestone Coast residents struggling with drug addiction.

Anyone with information on the sale, supply, manufacture or distribution of illicit drugs is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

If you would like to contribute any information on this issue, email The [Naracoorte Community] News at news@naracoortenews.com. You can request to remain anonymous.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News, 22 December 2021.