Key facts
- Drug-laced e-cigarettes are the main method of drug abuse for Chinese youth.
- "Heady e-cigarettes" contain the anesthetic etomidate.
- Synthetic substances like etomidate are becoming more popular than heroin.
- China's Supreme People's Court has warned about the dangers of these disguised narcotics to minors.
Drug-laced e-cigarettes have emerged as the primary means of drug abuse among young people in China, prompting a stern warning from the country's highest court. Authorities are intensifying efforts to combat synthetic substances that are rapidly gaining popularity and are now reportedly outpacing heroin in prevalence.
These "heady e-cigarettes," which contain the anesthetic etomidate, are becoming increasingly widespread among teenagers. The Supreme People's Court recently released a compilation of typical criminal cases involving new types of drugs to underscore the significant danger these disguised narcotics pose to minors.