MEMBER for Collie-Preston Mick Murray is “extremely proud” of his daughter for choosing to fight back against a 15-year drug addiction which has taken a stressful toll on the family.
The harrowing experience has also taught him that breaking the ice scourge grip cannot be forced on an addict after the idea of involuntary rehabilitation was floated by the state government earlier this year.
Last week 35-year-old Bree Murray appeared in Perth Magistrates Court and was fined after she was caught with cash she had stolen from her mother to pay for her addiction to ice.
Ms Murray was arrested after police searched a Bunbury home last year and she was given a suspended prison sentence when she was caught with 28 ecstasy tablets.
Her dad spoke to the Bunbury Mail after she had completed eight weeks in jail and had voluntarily entered into a 16-week rehabilitation program.
“For three weeks she wasn’t allowed to have contact with anyone and then when she reached the 16-week milestone she could have her first unescorted “sleepover” at her parents’ house,” Mr Murray said.
“That was a very moving experience, we sat around and chatted, watched a bit of footy.”
Mr Murray said his daughter was a completely different person compared to when she was in the grip of full-on addiction.
“We were on an even footing again – there was no drug-induced psychosis, she wasn’t fighting against the world anymore and wasn’t saying ‘I know everything’.”
Mr Murray said it was only the first step in the right direction but it was a big one and the family was immensely relieved when they heard Bree had chosen to go into rehabilitation.
All you can do is encourage, encourage, and then something snaps – I’m extremely proud, she could have kept carrying on with what she was doing but she chose not to.
- Collie-Preston MP Mick Murray
“Just to know where she was each night – no matter what age your kids are, you want to know that they are safe, being fed and looked after,” he said.
Since the family’s private pain became public last year, Mr Murray has been overwhelmed with phone calls from other South West families.
He said some were positive stories of recovery while others were desperately seeking help and did not know where to turn.
In June, Federal member for Forrest Nola Marino hosted a community ice forum in Bunbury which revealed struggling families were in need of local facilities and support.
In the same month WA mental health minister Helen Morton raised the idea of forced rehabilitation for meth addicts in the face of the national epidemic.
Mr Murray said his initial stance was “just make them do it and they will get better” but now he firmly believed it was not the answer.
“All you can do is encourage, encourage, and then something snaps – I’m extremely proud, she could have kept carrying on with what she was doing but she chose not to.”
Ms Murray has now applied for a second period of rehabilitation.
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If you need help, contact the South West Community Alcohol and Drug Service on 9721 9256.
