Concerns have been raised about the risks faced by the emergency staff dealing with people under the influence of dangerous synthetic drugs.

Eight Defence Force soldiers are being investigated by both the military and police after it was discovered they had taken a mystery drug - thought to be synthetic LSD - in Palmerston North early Sunday morning.

Though the investigation is ongoing, a source has said it was thought to have been the synthetic hallucinogen "N-Bomb", which can trigger a psychotic reaction in people who take it.

St John Ambulance district operations manager for Hawke's Bay and Manawatu Steve Yanko said if there was an increase in drugs, such as N-bomb, in Palmerston North then it would make life difficult for emergency services.

"It's going to pose more of a challenge to us from a safety point of view in terms of the volatility of these drugs.

"People, when they're delirious and on drugs, don't know what they're doing, and the consequence of that is that it can result in harm being done."

Yanko said dealing with people who were under the influence of drugs was different than dealing with those who were drinking alcohol, as drunk people had more predictable behaviour.

"But delirium and things like that can be very frightening and distressing for...emergency crews to manage.

"The person who [is] trying to help, their safety is at risk. It's just a spiral."

The problem did not stop with just the paramedics, but with all emergency services, such as police officers and firefighters, he said.

Yanko said the dangers were also high for the people taking these drugs.

"Some of these drugs not only do they make them delusional, they can increase their core temperature, [leaving] some risk of cardiac arrest.

"They're a whole new kid on the block and we're still learning things about them and it is scary, really."

The Defence Force has confirmed the soldiers involved in the incident, at 3.40am on Sunday, were based at Linton Military Camp.

The men were initially taken into custody by police and then transported to Palmerston North Hospital for treatment before being discharged.

A Defence Force spokesman said the penalties for possession of illegal drugs included warnings, imprisonment and dismissal but this depended on the nature and severity of the offence.

Support was provided to all Defence members with addiction issues, he said.

"Cases are referred out to external specialists as and when required."

The Defence Force had a zero-tolerance policy on the use of illicit drugs and liaised with ESR to monitor trends within the general population.

Specific education programmes are often delivered when cases arise.

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