There were 37 incidents of amphetamine possession and/or use recorded in the Dubbo local government area for 2014 (a rate of 90.3 incidents per 100,000 population).

For the same year there were 15 incidents of dealing and trafficking in amphetamines, (equal to 36.6 incidents per 100,000 population).

Both rates were up on the previous year's figures and the highest in five years.

Commenting on the 2014 figures released this week, NSW BOCSAR director Dr Don Weatherburn said the increased number of arrests for amphetamine-related offences (including methamphetamine or ice) was a statewide trend.

In the 24 months to December 2014, he said, the number of arrests for amphetamine possession in NSW increased by 36.3 per cent, while the number of arrests for amphetamine dealing rose by 27.6 per cent.

"There are large increases in the recorded rates of amphetamine-related offences in regional NSW as well as in parts of Sydney," he said.

While statewide only one of 17 major offences had increased over the past two years, the continued growth in arrests for amphetamine-related offences was a matter for concern, Dr Weatherburn said.

"The rise in arrests for amphetamine use and dealing is consistent with drug survey data in suggesting a rise in methamphetamine consumption," he said. National survey data showed in 2013 about 1.3 million (7 per cent) Australians had used meth/amphetamines in their lifetimes and 400,000 (2.1 per cent) had done so in the past 12 months.

There had also been an increase in the proportion of users taking it daily or weekly (from 9.3 per cent to 15.5 per cent), particularly among ice users (from 12.4 per cent to 25.3 per cent), Dr Weatherburn said.