The Southern Grampians and Glenelg Primary Care Partnership has just released a draft plan outlining trends in substance use and ways to combat its effects.

Alcohol is the main drug of concern, accounting for 37 per cent of those in treatment across the two shires, though a rising rate of cannabis and prescription drug addiction has been flagged as a problem.

Smoking remains a chronic issue, accounting for 13.2 per cent of avoidable deaths in the Southern Grampians and 12.3 in Glenelg - both above the Victorian average of 11.9 per cent.

Portland District Health chief executive John O'Neill said reports were useless without targeted spending to act on their recommendations.

"We have a high burden of disease, and from my point of view it's fine writing plans but if they're not supported by funding actions then they don't amount to much," he said.

"We are flat-chat in all of our programs - they're very well received; they're taken up heavily, but we can't keep up with the growth in demand."

Glenelg Shire has high rates of poor nutrition, diabetes and obesity, issues Mr O'Neill felt were in need of closer attention.

He called for more school-based prevention programs and a broader focus on community education.

"I think the most useful (thing) is that we start to educate people at an early age that alcohol abuse, smoking cannabis and illicit drug use has harmful effects," he said.

"People who are already addicted need to be supported in treatment programs, and it's very clear from the increase in violence across all our major cities that we need to put more resources into tackling it."

The draft plan sets out priorities to 2012, among them encouraging sports clubs to participate in a responsible drinking program and seeking a liquor outlet policy from both shires by July 2011.

Members of the public are invited to provide their thoughts by April 12.

It also recommends strategies to ensure that community members - police, health and family violence workers and court staff - are able to identify client needs and provide appropriate referrals.