BENDIGO'S drug burden isn't just limited to ice, says Victoria Police Inspector Peter Greaney.

Inspector Greaney said it was difficult to comment on claims ice dealers were deliberately targeting rural areas.

"We keep talking about ice but there are lots of other drugs out there causing issues," he said.

However he said methamphetamines were readily available in Bendigo.

"The biggest issue for us the changing dynamic of users [of ice]," he said.

Inspector Greaney said ice users sometimes did not fit the stereotypical profile of drug users, and could be from "decent backgrounds".

"It's always changing; recently there has been a bit of heroin around," he said.

Inspector Greaney said cannabis was probably the most commonly used drug by Bendigo residents.

While cannabis users didn't pose the same threat of violent behaviour as those on drugs such as ice, Inspector Greaney said its use could lead to use of harder drugs. 

"If you start using one drug, there's the danger of using others," he said.

In 2014, 116.8 drug dealing and trafficking offences were recorded in Bendigo per 100,000 residents, well up on the state average of 86.1 per 100,000.

There were 39.2 cultivation or manufacture of drugs offences reported in Bendigo per 100,000 residents, compared with 28.3 across the state.

There were 355.1 use or possession of drug offences recorded per 100,000 Bendigo residents. 

Inspector Greaney said the figures reflected higher rates of drug detection in central Victoria, rather than higher rates of use. 

"Initiatives such as Dob in a Dealer generated a lot of information for us," he said.