Alarm bells after anaesthetic-drug etomidate in illicit vape pods has put some people to hospital

A High Alert public warning's been issued with rising numbers of the items - known as space vapes or k-pods - found at the border and drug testing clinics.

The drug acts quickly, and can cause breathing difficulties and loss of coordination or consciousness.

It's caused a small number of hospitalisations, with anecdotal reports of seizures.

The Alert recommends users should drug-check etomidate vapes.