More than 100 Balclutha residents took to the streets on Saturday to raise awareness about the devastating impacts of methamphetamine.
Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monro
Organiser Jean Proctor said around 120 people were at the march, and that people were blown away to hear what the drug could do to communities.
She said it was an issue that was often swept under the rug by New Zealanders.
"Anything that is confronting or challenging, often you feel more comfortable in denying it and you're not taking it on board."
Mrs Proctor hopes to meet with local schools and help set up a much wider education programme around methamphetamine in Balclutha.
She said community leaders attending the march on Saturday were keen to come on board.
"When it starts to impact on family members and general people in the community, that's when it's something where we shouldn't be saying, 'well it doesn't happen here.'"
Balclutha, which has nearly 4000 residents, has no inpatient or outpatient services for methamphetamine addicts and Mrs Proctor wants there to be more early intervention services.
