ACT Policing drugs and organised crime Detective Sergeant Shane Scott said calls about the manufacture and cultivation of illicit drugs in the community had more than tripled on the same time last year.

The campaign, launched with a drug lab and grow house set up in Canberra's Garema Place, has seen at least 15 calls from the public reporting suspicious behaviour in the community in the past month.

The increase came after just four calls in the same period in 2012.

"We are focusing on mid to high level drug dealing," Detective Sergeant Scott told journalists.

“Police target every criminal in the supply chain from manufacturers and importers to local dealers. These people live or work in our community so chances are you may know something."

“There are signs which people can look out for which could indicate illicit drug dealing. Drug dealers often have unexplained wealth, might carry large sums of cash, meet in suspicious locations or make secretive phone calls. They may also have a lot of visitors who appear to be acquaintance’s rather than friends.”

"Drugs effect the community as a whole, right down to the end user and their family or friends and then to the impact on health and the cost to the taxpayer."

Detective Sergeant Scott said police wanted the community to take some ownership of the issue of illicit drugs.

He said officers from the drugs and organised crime squad were being assisted by officers from across ACT Policing to investigate the larger than usual number of reports to police.

Along with emergency medicine experts, ACT Policing this week turned their attention to public awareness of the chain of drug supply and the health impacts of drug use.

‘‘Engaging with the community and getting them involved to give some ownership about the issue is what we are really after,’’ he said.

Calvary Hospital emergency medicine consultant Dr David Caldicott, said that law enforcement had an important role to play in preventing young people from being hurt by illicit drugs.

‘‘People can overdose from these products very easily and they can die from these products very easily,’’ Dr Caldicott said.

‘‘The chronic effects can render them unemployable, can put an enormous burden on the health care system and that’s not even addressing the social impacts which include loss of driving license, loss of employment, loss of benefits, loss of mobility. The impact is almost limitless.’’

He said injecting drug users can easily attract infections or die from recreational behaviour while family and friends are often oblivious to drug use and addiction.

‘‘For the more classic products like marijuana and cocaine, these products look and have a consistency of appearance. For the more recent arrivals, I maintain the only people who know exactly what is in them are the manufacturers.’’

Dr Caldicott said people who provide drugs to young people do so only for profit.

‘‘My belief is they are in it for the money and shouldn’t be given the respect that they are in the community.’’

If you suspect someone is dealing illicit drugs or witnessed suspicious behaviour in your neighbourhood, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppers.com.au.