The Rotary-organised event at the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts was held to build awareness of the drug in an effort to minimise its broader effects on the community.

There was a young crowd at the event, with many teenagers attending with their parents in the audience of several hundred. 

Acting Ballarat Superintendent Bruce Thomas said Victoria Police took a "harm minimisation" approach to the drug because the problem could not be solved through arrests.

"It's not something we can arrest our way out of," Acting Superintendent Thomas said.

"If you arrest one supplier, two or three come along in their place."

Acting Superintendent Thomas also underlined the risks posed to the wider community.

"There's a flow-on (effect); (ice use) drives a lot of our road trauma, it drives a lot of our crime," he said.

"We've seen an increase in its presence at road fatalities in the last three or four years."

Testing for the drug was increasing, but it was expensive and hard to do widely, Acting Superintendent Thomas said.

"I don't want to be alarmist, but our roads are becoming more dangerous," he said.

One women who attended the forum asked the panel how she could get her ice addicted 22-year-old son into treatment.

Suzanne Powell, from Ballarat Community Health, said it was heartbreaking for family members, but there was little they could do to force treatment on someone.

"The person with the drug issue needs to want to get help," Ms Powell said.

"As much as we want them to get better and not to be addicted to this substance, there's not that much we can do (if they are not willing).

"All we can do is offer advice and support to the parents."

UnitingCare drug and alcohol program manager Peter Cranage paid tribute to the support workers trying to help people get off the drug.

"How would you feel if, every day you went to work, you could be bashed?" he asked. "In 17 years (in the sector) I've never seen a drug like this one."

He said UnitingCare treated 124 clients who nominated ice as their "primary drug of choice" last year.

Those looking for further information or support can go to the following websites recommended by Ballarat Community Health. 

 Ballarat Community Health - www.bch.org.au

Djerriwarrh Health Service - www.djerriwarrh.org.au

Hepburn Health Service - www.hhs.vic.gov.au

alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au