Residents of a remote town in Western Australia's Gascoyne region have spoken of their "frightening" ordeal helping 10 young boys suspected of ingesting synthetic drugs.

Key points: Police in WA are warning against the use of a drug – believed to be synthetic cannabis – that left 10 people in hospital at the weekend

Police in WA are warning against the use of a drug – believed to be synthetic cannabis – that left 10 people in hospital at the weekend Scenes inside the hospital were described as "mayhem", with some of the youths seen unconscious and frothing at the mouth

Scenes inside the hospital were described as "mayhem", with some of the youths seen unconscious and frothing at the mouth Different packets of the drug can produce different effects, even if the name and branding on the package look the same

The boys, aged 11 to 19, were found in varying stages of consciousness on Sunday at houses in Carnarvon, about 900 kilometres north of Perth.

Neighbours Buffy Kempton and Cyril Baumgarten were among the first to find the boys in a state of distress.

"The boys were coming out of the house screaming and throwing themselves on the ground and had that zombie look on them and spewing," Ms Baumgarten said.

"There's one young boy that took five boys to hold him down, he was going berserk.

"The youngest boy of it all, 11 years old, he collapsed in the house next door to us and there was one young boy that was inside the house and he was unconscious as well."

Buffy Kempton (seated with towel) and her family were among the first on the scene to help the boys. ( ABC News: Cecile O'Connor )

Ms Kempton said they were unsure at first what had happened to the boys.

"We were singing out on the streets for the community to come and help," she said.

"It was very, very frightening knowing me and my husband have kids around the same age … it was very emotional at the time"

She urged the community to take a hard stance against illicit drug use.

"Parents need to start pulling their heads in, start knowing where their children are, what they are doing, where they are at night and start dobbing in drug dealers," she said.

"We don't need to be frightened of them — this is our community and we need to start talking up for our kids and talking up for Carnarvon otherwise our kids are going to get hurt."

Police warn of dangerous drug in circulation

Senior Sergeant Jayd Morawski said police and ambulance officers discovered the group after responding to calls at a house in the suburb of Brockman.

"Police were informed that these people had inhaled or smoked a substance that they believed was a synthetic cannabinoid," he said.

"Further inquiries led to the discovery of some other people at a number of nearby houses who were also affected."

The boys were found in a state of distress out the front of homes in the Carnarvon suburb of Brockman. ( ABC News: Cecile O'Connor )

All 10 were taken to Carnarvon Hospital but have since been released, WA Country Health Service said.

It is understood all were known to each other and ingested the product together before dispersing to other properties as the effects took hold.

Extra police sent to Carnarvon

Extra police have been deployed to Carnarvon to assist the investigation; the ABC understands police have raided a number of properties since Sunday.

WA's Department of Communities, the Housing Authority and the Health Department are involved in a coordinated response, as police warned people to avoid the product.

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"At this stage, police are of the belief that the substances used are unregulated and may contain an unknown psychoactive substance which can cause serious health issues," Senior Sergeant Morawski said.

"The substance are sold in packets and can resemble plant-based material.

"At this point in time, the recent cluster of overdoses appears to be an isolated incident with all victims known to each other.

"However, people in possession of or encounter these products are urged to avoid consumption.

"Please seek help immediately if you or someone you know has consumed these substances and experienced adverse effects."

Hospital scene was 'mayhem'

Carnarvon Aboriginal Medical Service chief executive Les Cook said the scene at the hospital on Sunday was "mayhem".

Carnarvon police are working with the Department of Health to investigate the overdose event. ( ABC Pilbara: Karen Michelmore )

"I was there when everyone was sort of outside worrying about their boys," he said.

"The boys, eight to 10 of them, got hold of this stuff. I don't know whether they were sold it ... but they sound like they had a good old smoke of it and all of a sudden it was mayhem."

Mr Cook said some boys appeared to be unconscious and frothing at the mouth.

"The ambulance took about five trips to the hospital — there were that many of them," he said.

Effects of synthetic cannabis Synthetic cannabis is relatively new, so there is limited information available about its short and long-term effects. However, it has been reported to have similar effects to cannabis along with some additional negative and potentially more harmful effects including: Fast and irregular heartbeat

Fast and irregular heartbeat Racing thoughts

Racing thoughts Agitation and paranoia

Agitation and paranoia Psychosis

Psychosis Aggressive and violent behaviour

Aggressive and violent behaviour Chest pain

Chest pain Vomiting

Vomiting Acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury Seizures

Seizures Stroke Source: Alcohol & Drug Foundation

"And we haven't heard nothing from government responses or family counselling — there's nothing.

"Kids are back to normal. Probably the dealers are still dealing and life goes on up here."

He urged police to crack down on the dealers, and for all the services to work together to try and tackle problems in the community.

Synthetic cannabis more potent: expert

Synthetic cannabis is a man-made substance designed to mimic the effects of cannabis.

According to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation, powdered chemicals are mixed with solvents and herbs and sold in colourful, branded packets.

Chemicals used to make synthetic cannabis vary from batch to batch.

"It's called synthetic cannabis because the chemistry mimics traditional or organic cannabis, but it's quite different in the way it works in the body, because the potency is significantly higher and much more dangerous," spokeswoman Melinda Lucas said.

Carnarvon is a coastal town about 900 kilometres north of Perth known for its mining and agricultural industries. ( ABC Pilbara: Karen Michelmore )

"Because it is a chemical that's unregulated and usually made in a laboratory, it's very difficult to understand what are the other things that are mixed with that chemical structure, and one of the ones that are often mixed is something like acetone, which is nail polish remover.

"So that's particularly dangerous, when you are looking at some of the things that might also be in the synthetic products."

Different packets can produce different effects, even if the name and branding on the package look the same.

Synthetic cannabis is most commonly smoked and is sometimes drunk as a tea.