What is a Zombie Vape? One Inhalation and You Lose Control! Understand the Deadly Risks of Etomidate in One Glance, Facing Life Imprisonment

E-cigarettes have become a popular trend among young people in recent years, but what appears to be an ordinary e-cigarette can actually be a carrier for emerging drugs, even leading to the misuse problem known as 'zombie vapes.' In particular, recent reports of students using e-cigarettes through group purchases and sharing have raised concerns among parents and educational institutions. What exactly are zombie vapes? Why do they cause 'zombie-like' abnormal behavior after use? What is the difference between e-cigarettes and heated tobacco? Follow this report by Mei Yi Magazine to not only understand the related hazards but, more importantly, to establish correct concepts and prevent young people from accidentally encountering drugs out of curiosity, causing irreversible damage to their health and lives.

E-cigarettes Are Not Just E-cigarettes? Understanding the True Risks Behind Zombie Vapes In recent years, the term 'zombie vapes' has frequently appeared in news reports. Many people mistakenly think it is a new type of drug, but in fact, 'zombie vapes' are not an official drug name. They refer to the emerging method of mixing drugs into e-liquid and inhaling them through e-cigarettes. Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao pointed out that unlike traditional drugs that require special tools for use, e-cigarettes are easy to operate and difficult to identify, so in addition to paying attention to the vape itself, e-cigarettes may also be used by lawbreakers as drug carriers.

Many people also confuse e-cigarettes with heated tobacco. Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao pointed out that in the domestic market, these are different products. Heated tobacco uses tobacco products and must undergo relevant procedural reviews, while e-cigarettes use vaporized e-liquid, which can contain various ingredients, making management and law enforcement relatively more difficult. Currently, the domestic market has banned the manufacture, sale, display, and use of e-cigarettes, and violating relevant regulations may involve the 'Tobacco Harm Prevention Act.'

For this reason, the government has been strengthening the management of e-cigarettes in recent years, aiming to prevent e-cigarettes from becoming drug carriers from the source and reduce the risk of emerging drugs entering campuses and society.

Common Ingredients of Zombie Vapes Exposed! How Did Etomidate Transform from an Anesthetic to an Emerging Drug? Currently, one of the most common drug ingredients found in seized zombie vapes is etomidate. In fact, etomidate was originally not a drug but a type of anesthetic used in medical practice. After being abused by illegal groups, it was added to e-liquid for inhalation, gradually becoming one of the ingredients in emerging drugs.

However, due to the abuse of etomidate, the harm it causes to society continues to increase. After professional evaluation by relevant authorities, it was determined that its harm outweighs its medical benefits, and thus, the regulations were adjusted, and the drug control level was raised to respond to the rapidly expanding abuse situation.

Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao added that the biggest feature of this emerging drug is that it changes very quickly. From changes in ingredients, updates in inhalation methods, to transformations in sales models, all these pose greater challenges to prevention work. Therefore, regulatory revisions must also keep up with the pace of drug evolution to effectively reduce harm.

Why Is Etomidate Called 'Zombie Vapes'? Understanding Short-term and Long-term Hazards in One Go After understanding what etomidate is, it is more important to recognize the hazards it brings to the human body. One of the reasons why etomidate has attracted high social attention is that it may cause obvious and dangerous physical reactions after inhalation. Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao pointed out that after inhaling etomidate, within a short period of time, symptoms such as dizziness, unconsciousness, and confusion may occur. The most concerning is that it may induce myoclonus, that is, involuntary muscle twitching. When the central nervous system cannot normally control the limbs, the patient may exhibit uncontrolled movements and abnormal gait, appearing like a walking corpse, hence the colloquial term 'zombie vapes.'

In addition to short-term effects, the risks of long-term abuse are even more alarming. Since etomidate has a central nervous system inhibitory effect, if it is repeatedly abused for a long time, it may affect the control ability between the brain and the body, further increasing the risk of paralysis, consciousness disorders, shock, and even endangering life. More worrying is that these abnormal conditions may occur without warning. If the inhaler is riding a bicycle, driving a car, or operating machinery at that moment, it not only endangers themselves but may also endanger other road users and surrounding citizens' personal safety.

Not Only Harmful to the Body but Also Harmful to Others! Zombie Vapes May Also Cause Drug Driving and Criminal Liability In addition to harming health, zombie vapes have also increased the risk of drug driving. Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao pointed out that since drugs are mixed into e-liquid, the method of inhalation becomes more secretive, increasing the possibility of inhaling while driving.

In addition to public safety risks, related legal responsibilities are equally important. Currently, etomidate has been classified as a second-level drug and was further upgraded to a first-level drug on June 27, 2026. If involved in possession, manufacture, transportation, or sale, one may face serious legal responsibilities. If driving a vehicle after drug use, one may additionally be involved in criminal liability for public endangerment.

Whether out of curiosity, sharing with friends, or purchasing online, as long as you come into contact with e-cigarette products of unknown origin, you may unknowingly come into contact with drugs, not only harming your health but also facing legal responsibilities.

What to Do If Emerging Drugs Enter Campuses? The More Parents Understand, the Less Risk There Is The most concerning issue in recent years is that emerging drugs have gradually entered the lives of adolescents, making campuses an important frontline for drug prevention.

Deputy Squad Leader Zheng Weihao reminded that there have already been cases of e-cigarettes entering high schools and even junior high school campuses. Some students purchase e-cigarettes through group buying and then share them with each other, easily forming dependence due to peer influence. More notably, illegal businesses, in order to attract young people, will design e-cigarettes to be colorful, novel in shape, or even make them look like popular items such as 'bubble tea cups,' lowering the alertness of young people to illegal acts, making them think it is just a regular e-cigarette and overlook the possibility of hidden drug ingredients.

For parents, in addition to prohibition, it is more important to understand the popular culture and peer environment that their children are exposed to. If you find that your child suddenly has an e-cigarette device of unknown origin, frequently purchases products of unknown origin with classmates, or exhibits obvious changes in behavior and emotions, you should actively show concern and communicate patiently, rather than blame them immediately, and understand as early as possible whether your child has been exposed to drugs or is facing related risks. If parents have questions about e-cigarettes or emerging drugs, they can also seek help from relevant units such as police, education, or health, and have professional personnel provide correct information and suggestions to avoid missing the opportunity for early intervention due to insufficient information.

E-cigarettes may look like ordinary consumer products, but once they become carriers for emerging drugs, they bring not only health hazards but may also lead to drug driving, addiction, and legal responsibilities. For young people, establishing correct awareness and avoiding contact with e-cigarette products of unknown origin is often more important than remedial measures afterward. The appearance of emerging drugs is constantly changing, but raising alertness, establishing correct awareness, and early intervention are always the most important keys to prevention. Only through the cooperation of families, schools, and the government can the risk of young people coming into contact with drugs be reduced, and the health and future of children be protected.

This article is reprinted with permission from Mei Yi Magazine (original title: What is a Zombie Vape? E-cigarettes Become Drug Carriers! 'Etomidate' Drug Driving Hazards, Criminal Liability, and Essential Alerts for Parents). Responsible Editor: Cai Huixin