A high-ranking policeman has also warned residential treatment services are non-existent in the region and addicts have nowhere to go when they want to get clean.

Population based statistics show methamphetamine possession and use has continued to rise in Wodonga and Wangaratta in the past 12 months.

The figures reveal ice grew in popularity around 2011 and has increased significantly since.

Wangaratta Inspector David Ryan said limited services couldn’t keep up with demand.

“There really is nowhere we can offer drug users trying to release themselves from their dependence residential treatment,” he said. “Those facilities just don’t exist.

“Hopefully in time the situation will be corrected.

“It’s going to take a lot of money and community support for that to occur.

“For every single person who goes down that track of trying to halt their dependency, if we’re not able to offer some sort of treatment regime then and there, I personally think we’re probably failing them.”

Inspector Ryan said addicts were often “polydrug users” keen for “whatever they can get their hands on”.

The statistics show speed use and possession has significantly declined recently but ecstasy has made a resurgence.

The recorded abuse of prescription medication has also declined steadily over recent years. 

Marijuana continues to be the most popular narcotic in the region. 

“Our experience has been that cannabis still appears to be the most commonly located drug,” Inspector Ryan said. 

“With instances where we engage with people who are drug affected, methamphetamine use is more common due to that aggression associated with ice use.” 

Moves to combat the ice epidemic by creating treatment services were “well underway”, Inspector Ryan said. 

Alcohol and Drug Foundation national policy manager Geoff Munro said drugs cycled in and out of favour. 

Heroin – which has traditionally been scarce in the region – could make a resurgence if ice use fell. 

“For many people who use drugs, those drugs are interchangeable,” he said. 

“Heroin can replace methamphetamine, just as methamphetamine replaced heroin after the heroin drought in 2000. 

“We are concerned heroin will return as a drug of choice for many people.”