A Port Macquarie drug and alcohol expert has described a NSW inquiry into the drug ice as "limited" but is hopeful it could lead to a greater understanding of drug and alcohol problems in the community.
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The inquiry was set up in November 2018 by the State Government and is investigating the nature, prevalence and impact of the drug in NSW.
Hearings are being held until August in Sydney and regional areas including Lismore, Dubbo, Nowra, East Maitland and Broken Hill.
Chairperson of the Mid North Coast Human Services Alliance and steering committee member of the local drug action team Dr Robbie Lloyd believes the impact of ice in the community might be overstated.
"Ice is much more in the perception than the reality," he said.
"It is easy to exaggerate how bad the problem is because of an individual experience with a particularly dangerous drug like ice but really alcohol is a much bigger problem in our area."
Dr Lloyd said while "ice gets talked up far too much" the inquiry could lead to a more "holistic" approach to dealing with drug and alcohol problems.
"These issues need to be dealt with in a holistic way," Dr Lloyd said.
"If you look at what motivates someone to end up abusing drugs and alcohol there is always some form of trauma behind the scenes," he said.
"That is far and away the young people who come to our specialist assistance high school (Nautilus College) who are actively involved in drug and alcohol in Yr 9 and 10."
Dr Lloyd has been campaigning for the last three years for a "recovery centre" in the region which will allow young people recovering from drug and alcohol abuse to study at the same time.
Dr Lloyd has already met with the NSW Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women Bronwyn Taylor.
Findings by the Commission on the drug ice will be handed down by the end of 2019.
