Thailand’s Department of Medical Sciences (DMS) warned that e-cigarettes are increasingly being laced with etomidate, a short-acting anesthetic that poses serious risks to the brain, respiratory system, and other vital organs. Tests conducted between October 2024 and June 2025 found etomidate in 56 of 83 e-cigarette and equipment samples. The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified etomidate as a Special Controlled Drug before elevating it to a Schedule 2 Psychotropic Substance on July 27, to enforce stricter importation and usage rules. Despite this, the anesthetic has been detected in e-cigarettes produced in Asia and in smuggled e-liquids entering Thailand.
Reports indicate that etomidate is being mixed with or substituted for nicotine in modified e-cigarettes known as “Zombie Cigarettes” or “Pot K.” The DMS has developed a testing method to detect the substance, which will aid police in drug suppression efforts. Authorities have also found e-cigarettes laced with narcotics such as cocaine and fentanyl, raising concerns about increased fatality risks among users.
