Ministry of Education to Introduce Saliva Testing for 'Zombie Vapes' by September

Central News Agency (Taipei), June 1. In response to the difficulty of identifying emerging drugs like etomidate (commonly known as 'zombie vapes'), the Ministry of Education is considering the inclusion of saliva testing as a rapid auxiliary tool for early risk identification in schools, with implementation expected as early as the 115th academic year (this September). The Ministry of Education stated in a press release today that emerging drugs like etomidate are often disguised as e-cigarettes or vape cartridges, leading to risks such as drug abuse and driving under the influence. Given the difficulty of immediate identification, the Ministry is studying the use of saliva testing as an auxiliary tool. Tsai Yi-ching, Director of the Department of Student Affairs and Special Education, stated in an interview that to prevent students from being harmed by drugs, schools maintain lists of specific individuals—such as those with a history of drug use, those who have dropped out, or those suspected of drug use—and conduct regular and irregular urine tests each semester. Tsai noted that because urine testing procedures are complex, some students replace samples with tea or dilute their urine to avoid detection. Furthermore, since emerging drugs have faster metabolic rates, the Ministry is considering saliva testing to reduce obstacles for schools and enable rapid screening. The relevant guidelines are currently being revised, with implementation expected as early as the 115th academic year (this September). Tsai explained that saliva testing provides schools with a faster alternative for early risk identification, helping to simplify procedures and facilitate the early introduction of counseling resources. If a school uses saliva testing and obtains a positive result, a urine test is still required for confirmation before the results are sent to testing units and reported through school safety channels. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150601. Cherish life and stay away from drugs. Call the Drug Abuse Prevention Center hotline at 0800-770-885 for addiction recovery information and professional assistance.