The report reinforces the extremely harmful physical and social impacts of the drug ice, particularly on individual health, families and children and its strong connection with violence and aggression and other criminal behaviour.

Given the complexity of the issues surrounding the drug, the report calls for a coordinated response through multifaceted strategies set out in an action plan and framework overseen by an all-of-government Ministerial Council on Methamphetamine.

The chairperson of the Inquiry Committee, Simon Ramsay MLC, participated in the Community Ice Forum organised by CGDAT in Ararat recently and took away the message that there is a strong desire in local communities to be educated and informed in order to prevent the problems associated with this insidious drug.

Marianne Hendron, chair of CGDAT, said the group was particularly interested in the report's recommendations around the need to engage communities to address methamphetamine use through Community Action Partnerships.

The report recognises that the harmful impacts of methamphetamine use go beyond the individual user, hence an all-of-community response including by the government, the community and private sectors, such as user groups, families and family support groups, individuals and organisations, is needed to combat this problem.

"It is the committee's view that this can best be done through the establishment of (methamphetamine) community partnerships," Ms Hendron said.

"Such partnerships should comprise of government and non-government representatives with relevant expertise in the area of drug-related issues."

The report also highlighted particular challenges with treatment services in rural settings, such as issues with accessing services, the difficulty of maintaining anonymity, and insufficient AOD specialists working in country areas.

In addition, many rural and regional areas may not have previously experienced a significant problem with illicit drug use and are therefore not well equipped to address it.

The report acknowledges that the harmful use of other drugs including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and ecstasy as well as pharmaceutical medication, are all more prevalent than methamphetamines and any approach should be flexible enough to be able to address other problematic drug use should the situation arise.

Ms Hendron said that the objectives and approach of the CGDAT were very much affirmed by the report's recommendations, including the view that local communities have a distinct role to play in addressing and 'owning' the methamphetamine problem. "As the report suggests, we have established a working group that provides a focal point for local planning and implementation of community action targeting the identified problem - involving representatives from local health services, local government and community groups," she said.

The CGDAT does not receive any funding and has limited capacity to undertake activities, however Ms Hendron the group is committed to providing further community education forums, disseminating current and accurate information and is in the process of developing an action plan to address information and education needs across the Central Grampians.

"It is our hope that the government will back up the proposals in this report with a realistic allocation of funding to support this important community prevention work" she said.