Police have swarmed the Gold Coast, with 26 arrests made on the first day of Schoolies.

Apart from the arrests, resulting in charges of public nuisance and drug possession, a number of schoolies were reportedly taken to hospital by paramedics.

The majority of the non-schoolies arrested related to public nuisance and good order offences.

The main entertainment precinct at Surfers Paradise, known as The Hub, was party central on Saturday night for the end of high school celebrations.

Despite the arrests, police were “pleased with the behaviour of schoolies” so far.

A statement from Queensland Police said: “Overnight there was one 17-year-old male Schoolie arrested on The Esplanade in Surfers Paradise around 11.30pm after police allegedly located a small amount of tablets believed to be MDMA and a sum of cash on his person.

“He has been charged with four drug related offences including possess dangerous drug, possess property used in connection (with drugs) and possess proceeds.

“It is a timely reminder to the community that the possession and consumption of drugs is illegal. Not only is it illegal but it is also dangerous and could have fatal consequences.

“Police will not hesitate to take enforcement action against anyone found in possession of, supplying, trafficking or producing dangerous drugs”.

Security guards have been overwhelmed by the flow of schoolies trying to enter the Hub and have started waving hordes of people through without checking wristbands.

Gold Coast criminal lawyer Ron Behlau told News Corp he was concerned about the prevalence of cheap, but potentially lethal, moonshine (home-distilled alcohol).

“We’ve seen that home-distilled alcohol can kill or seriously injure people,’’ he said.

“Parents of teenagers, and teenagers themselves, need to be aware of how dangerous illegally brewed alcohol can be.’’

Gold Coast Schoolies Community Safety Response chairman Mark Reaburn says up to 25,000 students will visit the area this year with mainly Queenslanders arriving in week one.

The annual event, once a flashpoint for violence and anti-social behaviour, has a strong police presence.

Students have been warned of the consequences of any bad behaviour and also the long-term consequences of impulsive nude selfie poses.

Targeted police patrols, monitoring of city cameras and early intervention strategies are key to the policing strategy for the schoolies response.

Drug detection dogs will also be utilised throughout the response with drugs being a major focus for police.

As many as 1100 volunteers from various community organisations will provide assistance to revellers, including representatives of youth outreach group Red Frogs as well as on-site medical treatment centres.

With AAP