Dr Schep said the National Poisons Centre received calls from a number of people such as mothers concerned about their children's behaviour, police officers dealing with violent offenders, or ambulance officers attending to people who are high on drugs.
The Whangarei District Council last year adopted a policy to restrict where legal highs could be sold in the city which was superseded by the Psychoactive Substances Act.
Owen Thomas, manager community services, said there would have been fewer substances covered under the Act circulating in the community, although the council was not collecting any information on the illegal use.
"Anecdotally, we have noticed less of the disruptive behaviour around town that was associated with these substances in the past," he said.
Far North prevention manager for police Senior Sergeant Chris McLellan said his officers have not heard reports of people using psychoactive substances since the ban came into effect.
Police had also not seen an emergence of a black market for party pills and synthetic cannabis in the Far North.
"We had concerns about it [psychoactive substances] from the start in terms of how it's made and its implications on society,' he said.
"We've also had a lot of community support and a significant amount of information has come through from people who are concerned about its use."
