Detective Chief Inspector Steve Taylor from the Drug and Organised Crime Task Force talks about recent drug arrests relating to package intercepts. Courtesy SA Police.

THE latest party drug being increasingly used in Australia is so “toxic” and deadly in small doses users probably won’t know they are trouble until it’s too late.

Authorities say Wizard is among a “new and emerging” group of lethal drugs flooding the Australian market.

It has already resulted in several deaths and left others seriously unwell, suffering everything from brain damage to psychotic episodes.

One Australian victim died after he repeatedly ran into trees and power poles while Sydney teen Henry Kwan fell from a balcony and died, convinced that he could fly after consuming a similar drug.

Worried police say people are not realising what they are taking, while a senior expert in drug policy said people had to wake up to the fact they were playing “Russian roulette” every time they used it.

Wizard is sold in tablet and blotter tab form, and mimics the effects of ecstasy and LSD, but is far more powerful.

The size of the problem was illustrated by raids in South Australia last week.

Police seizzed more than 10,000 tabs of the drug — worth an estimated $250,000 — which that had been bought over the internet from Canada. Drug trafficking charges were laid against a 21-year-old man.

Thousands of other pills were discovered in Sydney last week.

The Australian Crime Commission, which monitors drug trends said Wizard was the latest form of “potent hallucinogenic drugs” known as NBOMes.

Crime Commission chief executive Chris Dawson told news.com.au that the group of drugs was a known killer.

“NBOMes, which include 25-I-NBOMe, have been suspected of playing a role in a number of deaths and non-fatal overdoses in Australia since 2011,” Mr Dawson said.

It is so dangerous because it only takes a small amount to cause serious damage.

“NBOMes can be toxic in very small doses and it is very difficult to deliver accurate and consistent doses, increasing the risk of harm to users,” he said.

The drugs come in many colours and descriptions. As well as being fatal, users can experience hallucinations, psychosis, extreme aggression, elevated heart rate, seizures, nausea, neurological damage and organ damage.

The relative ease with which people have obtained the drugs has complicated matters for authorities, resulting in more people taking it.

Its prevalance has also been fuelled by gangs attracted by the money that could be made.

“In Australia, there is an increasing use of these substances and a diverse range of suppliers, including an increasing presence by serious and organised crime groups,” Mr Dawson said.

He confirmed the detection of NBOMes was increasing. To combat the issue the Federal Government had included Wizard and three similar drugs to the Criminal Code Regulations to attempt to control them.

A drugs policy expert told news.com.au that new varieties of drugs were constantly coming into the Australian market.

He was concerned young Australians, in particular, were too casual in their approach to drugs and didn’t properly understand the risks associated with substances such as Wizard.

“It has never been a wise thing to do ... but things can turn very bad quite quickly,” he said.

Police agree some users are mistaking Wizard for ecstasy or LSD, and getting far more than they bargained for.

A senior drug and organised crime investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Taylor, said law enforcement agencies were constantly monitoring the internet and checking postal items for illicit drugs.

He said Wizard had contributed to several deaths and left others needing immediate hospitalisation.

“People are mistakenly taking it believing they are taking ecstasy or LSD, but it’s clearly not that type of drug. It’s far more potent. It’s very, very dangerous,” he said.