The first session will be held for community workers and has already attracted widespread interest from workers in the Manning and neighbouring areas, with the original capacity of 50 increased to 100.

Jane O'Dwyer, the regional co-ordinator of the Taree Forster Cooperative Legal Service Delivery (CLSD) program, organised the seminars, which will feature speakers from the local police, legal centres, Biripi and health services.

Jane said the seminars would not only address the health issues of the drug, but also the legal ramifications and the impact on the families of drug users.

The seminars were about "starting the conversation," Jane said.

"It's about introducing the workers who deal with the drug to the appropriate referral pathways," she said.

"They can't help someone if they don't know the appropriate way how."

She said ice presented different issues to other drugs that have traditionally been an issue in regional areas.

"There's no methadone for ice," Jane said.

Although she expected interest in the sessions, Jane said she was still taken aback by the amount of community members who wanted to attend.

"I think it's because there's nothing else there. There's a real need for it," she said.

The workers session, to be held in Taree on July 31, is the first of several community sessions.

Forster will have two sessions of August 5, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4pm.

Taree's sessions will be held on August 20.

More information on the sessions is available here.