"Sex is sometimes the biggest selling point," said the veteran social campaigner.

"Sex is the reason middle-age guys go for ice as it increase their sex drive and then they slip it to young women, sometimes without their knowledge, which can be an instant dependence."

Mr Twentyman was commenting after the Mercury revealed attempts by men on online dating sites to lure teen girls with offers of drugs.

While leading forums with police in regional Victoria, Mr Twentyman heard a mother tell an overcrowded hall how sex was used to lure her sons into ice addiction.

"I'll never forget how brave she was when she got up and told everyone how her two eldest boys were lured by older women in the town who used sexual favours to get them to start dealing," he said.

"One boy now has severe mental health issues and because the town is more than a two-hour round trip for rehab services, the son is beyond any hope so his mum and five siblings live in fear of their lives."

During the tour Mr Twentyman said he was made aware of "ice parties" held by bikie gangs.

"They hold parties and invite young people where they try the drug, knowingly or not, to create more customers and dealers," he said. "Because of the drought, a lot of people have got involved in making and distributing ice."

Mr Twentyman said the links between regions such as Wollongong with high youth unemployment and heavy industry decline, and higher levels of drug use, were unavoidable.

"A 16-year-old out of work is likely to hang out with other 16-year-olds out of work who are more likely to use drugs because there's nothing better to do," he said.

In 2014 a report by the Australian Local Government Association found 18.4 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds in the Illawarra were unemployed, the fifth highest rate nationally.

Even those who find work were still at risk.

"What we've found is some factory workers are using it to stay awake for night shifts. As those jobs disappear, people are working multiple jobs and turning to ice in order to function."

Despite once having a petrol bomb thrown at him by an ice-affected client, Mr Twentyman believes youth workers rather than policing is the better solution to ice-ravaged regions.

"We need youth workers in every school and more in disadvantaged areas to intervene, support and mentor kids and families at risk," he said.

"We have a big surge in births in areas affected by ice and we need to break the cycle."