Key facts
- Drug-laced e-cigarettes, known as 'heady e-cigarettes,' are rapidly spreading among teenagers in China.
- These vape pens contain the anesthetic etomidate.
- The Supreme People's Court has highlighted the severe threat these disguised narcotics pose to minors.
- Authorities are cracking down on synthetic substances that are becoming more popular than heroin among youth.
Drug-laced e-cigarettes have emerged as a primary method of drug abuse among Chinese youth, prompting a stern warning from China's highest court as authorities intensify their crackdown on synthetic substances. These substances are reportedly surpassing heroin in popularity. Specifically, vape pens containing the anesthetic etomidate, referred to as 'heady e-cigarettes,' are rapidly proliferating among teenagers. The Supreme People's Court recently published typical criminal cases involving new types of drugs to underscore the significant danger these disguised narcotics present to minors.