Speaking to Fairfax Regional Digital on Wednesday, Central Hunter Police crime manager Detective Inspector John Zdrilic said if there was evidence of even one person using synthetic drugs “it’s a problem.”

“The use of any mind-altering substance whether licit or illicit doesn't matter - unless it’s for medical reasons and prescribed by a qualified medical professional there will be nothing but pain, “ Detective Inspector Zdrilic said.

“The challenges are, it effects people in a different ways, some of them become quite erratic and on numerous occasions can become a bit violent.

“There are indications that crimes have been perpetrated in which the alleged use of synthetic drugs have certainly contributed to that.”Last month police responded to an armed robbery at an adult store in Rutherford in which synthetic cannabis was among the goods stolen.

Detective Inspector Zdrilic said a number of synthetic drugs are freely available and aren’t listed on the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985.

“To reform the legislation to either, one, include those specific drugs on the schedule thus making them illicit or, two, altering the act and making it an offence to be under the influence of a mind altering substance would be steps in the right direction," he said. “But this is a question not for police but for the legislators.”