Crystal methamphetamine has recently been in the spotlight with the recruitment of the government's national ice taskforce, however Illawarra-Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) has said "we should remember" that drug dependency was a much broader and complex issue.

ISLHD Director Drug and Alcohol Service David Reid said while more clients were being treated for methamphetamine use than five years ago, the main area of treatment was for alcohol misuse "which accounts for around 60 per cent of all referrals to the Drug and Alcohol Service".

Lake Illawarra Commander, Superintendent Wayne Starling also said misuse of alcohol was one of the region's biggest problems "for both police and our community".

"It ranges from teenagers consuming alcohol and then making poor life choices right through to adults drinking excessively and endangering themselves and others," said Mr Starling.

"It is not uncommon to see young girls so intoxicated that they cannot pick themselves up from the ground. I have seen many such young intoxicated girls after they have become victims of violence and/or sexual assault and sadly many struggle for many years.

"Sexual assaults have occurred while these teenagers are under the influence of alcohol and for every sexual assault that is reported I am aware several are not reported."

"We also have alcohol in matters of domestic violence, anti social behaviour including assaults [coward punches], brawls and driving offences."