Ice addict and former AFL star Ben Cousins is led away by Police in 2007. Credit:Greg Burke We live in an era where there is more information around than ever before about the catastrophic consequences of taking drugs. So why do some people think that they have the right to take ice ignoring the risk of addiction when all the information out there tells them that this is a highly addictive and non-discriminatory drug. Everyone has their struggles. Life hasn't always been a bed of roses for the silent majority of law-abiding citizens out there in our towns and suburbs. Everyone has problems, struggles and difficult times. We don't make excuses but try our best to improve our lives. So why do we need to keep making excuses for those taking ice. The recent $1.1 million announcement of a WA methamphetamine prevention campaign for 15-29 year olds is obviously well intentioned. But, seriously, is there any young or old person out there today who genuinely lacks information about the dangers of ice? The money could be better spent on rehabilitation centres because it seems no matter how much you tell people that meth addiction completely rewires your brain and system, too many people are choosing to ignore the message. We see and hear the stories every weekend of what emergency departments have to deal with. How a person on ice develops super human strength and needs to be held down by half a dozen medical staff.

It shouldn't matter what the drug is, everyone knows how dangerous drugs are. Tobacco is a drug. Alcohol is a drug. But despite the warnings that these drugs can also kill you, there are still those who think they will have a magical exemption from becoming addicted. People say that "just saying no" doesn't work. Well it's obvious that "just saying yes" doesn't work either. When a person selfishly decides to take their first hit of ice, don't tell me they didn't know what they were doing. Oh, did they think they were better than others before them? Including so many high profile people like former Eagles star Ben Cousins. In 2010, Cousins' documentary Such Is Life shocked millions of Australians with the uncomfortable vision showing just how that first drug hit eventually spiraled into the drug addiction that took control of one of the AFL's biggest stars.

This year, we have all seen a series of more bizarre and erratic behaviour from the now-faded footy star but still a father of two who continues to so publicly battle the demons of addiction. Ben Cousins said at the time he filmed his documentary that he hoped his story would ultimately help save lives. So why not show this film to every teenager and use snippets in advertising to remind people that this drug can destroy even the mightiest? Ultimately, empowering people to say 'no' is the only genuine way to beat this epidemic. Otherwise all we can ever do is try to shut the gate after the horse has bolted. The drug being pushed by the insidious dealers might change from one generation to the next but the temptation and the peer pressure has been there for decades. If you go back ten or twenty or even thirty years ago, drugs were just as widespread. Perhaps they were not as potent but they were still highly addictive. All of us had to learn to say no even if we had to we cop the taunts from the 'cool' kids.

As a society, we are just not being tough enough on drugs. Unfortunately there are too many conflicting messages being given all the time. While we pay for more ads to tell us all how bad drugs are, there are those still pushing their hippy-wonderland idea of de-criminalising marijuana. Then we have the completely loopy idea of giving ice addicts free methamphetamine in some misguided way to combat crime. Like free methadone has not stopped heroin addicts chasing their fix from their nearest dealer, do we really swallow the junk being peddled that by handing out 'free' ice ('free' meaning paid for by you and me) that addicts will all of a sudden stop mugging vulnerable elderly people or robbing businesses? The bottom line is that saying "no" really is the only way to go. If you don't speed, you won't cop a speeding fine. If you don't take drugs, you won't get addicted. Yes, life is not always a bed of roses. But when things get tough most people choose to suck it up, tough things out and do the best they can without succumbing to the scourge of drugs. People need to be strong enough to face up to their responsibilities. You owe it to your children, you owe it to your parents and most importantly you owe it to yourself to stop and think before you start using drugs which simply handpasses your problems to the rest of society.

If you don't get that job you have applied for, the answer is not to go and find your nearest dealer. If you cop negative criticism in any aspect of your life, the answer is not to go and find your nearest dealer. If you feel like you are missing out on something that you didn't get the chance to do when you were a teenager, the answer is not to go and find your nearest dealer. The WA Health Department's latest ad says "Ice tears families apart, don't let it destroy yours". I know it is true because, like most people in modern Australia, I have watched drug addiction tear families apart and I sadly still see it close to me every day. I see people who have had every chance to say "no" but instead selfishly set off on a path that will never be over for the people who love and care for them most. Parents, siblings, partners, children – even after the addict is gone the nightmare continues for these people.

Here in WA, in this year alone the Mental Health Commission estimates that it will fund more than 40,000 treatment and support episodes for people suffering drug or alcohol addiction. If people could learn to say no and take some responsibility for their own actions our society would be so much better off. Not only would we save the money spent on expensive rehab or prevent the crime that comes with drug addiction. Most importantly we would save those thousands of families that are being torn apart before our eyes. Karalee Katsambanis has had more than 20 years experience as an award winning news journalist on television, radio and newspapers. She is a mother of three. Her husband is a Liberal MP in WA. Listen to her on 6PR's PerthTonight with Chris Ilsley between 9-10pm on Mondays. Follow WAtoday on Twitter