Tough question. Yes. But what's the genuine answer?

For a long time now this community has been talking about the damage ice is doing to our city.

We have seen the shocking statistics which show an escalation in ice use.

We have listened to the police talk about how out of control this ice epidemic has become.

Offenders - one after the other - have passed through our court system.

We've been reminded to not fall into the trap of thinking it's just 'druggies' or 'no hopers' that use ice. In fact, those on the front line in the battle against ice have said before that the general public would be shocked if they really knew who was using this drug.

The focus on ice was never stronger than the murder case against Harley Hicks which played out in the Supreme Court in Bendigo from March through to May.

This was a case that detail by brutal detail outlined how easily ice can ruin so many lives.

Today, Casey Veal, the grieving mother of Zayden Veal-Whitting, has issued a heartfelt plea for people to stop using this hideous drug.

There's probably few people in our community more qualified to make such a request.

An ice addict took an irreplaceable part of her life from her.

She knows better than most how ice shatters lives.

We wonder how many others are living through similar nightmares. These families, partners and friends of ice addicts may not have lost a loved one... yet... but the ending of their story is still yet to play out. No doubt they live for a happy ending.

Let's hope Casey Veal's plea is heard far and wide.

The time is well past for this community to discover a means of getting rid of this scourge.

As has been said many times before, it's going to take a united community to rid ice from our streets.

Are we as a community up for that?