China has intensified efforts to protect young people by issuing a guideline targeting "high-inducing vapes" — electronic cigarette devices containing new types of illicit drugs such as etomidate and synthetic marijuana.

The guideline, jointly formulated by the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Public Security and the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, aims to tackle the abuse and rapid spread of such vapes among young people, the office said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to the guideline, narcotics control offices, police and tobacco monopoly departments at all levels are instructed to strengthen collaboration to combat crimes involving the illegal production and sale of e-cigarettes, as well as the addition of illicit drugs and substitute substances in e-cigarette liquids.

Authorities are also required to crack down on the illegal production of emerging drugs, including etomidate, which is generally used by doctors as an anesthetic during surgeries. They must also promptly penalize and keep records of individuals consuming high-inducing vapes, and address related online crimes.

The guideline emphasizes the importance of collaboration between police and tobacco monopoly departments. It calls for the establishment and enhancement of a joint system for information sharing and coordinated law enforcement targeting the illegal production and sale of e-cigarettes, as well as the creation of e-cigarettes containing illicit drugs.

These agencies are also tasked with monitoring drug substitutes used in high-inducing vapes, collecting and analyzing information about such substances on a regular basis.

Local narcotics control offices, police and tobacco monopoly departments are urged to use various media platforms to raise awareness among young people about anti-drug laws, regulations and the harmful effects of high-inducing vapes.

Additionally, the guideline calls for the National Narcotics Laboratory and its branches to make full use of their technologies to support efforts against such vapes.

In recent years, China has responded forcefully to the emergence of new types of illicit drugs, the abuse of which poses a serious threat to the public, particularly young people.

In 2023, China added etomidate to its list of psychotropic substances, meaning it is strictly controlled in terms of production, sales and use. An exception has been made for medications containing etomidate that have been approved for sale in China.

In 2021, synthetic marijuana was added to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic and psychotropic drugs.

China is seeing a continuous decline in the number of people abusing mainstream illicit drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine, according to a report published in June last year by the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission.

However, the misuse of substitute substances, including narcotic and psychotropic drugs, has become prominent, with the misuse of etomidate being particularly notable.

Yuan Ming, an official with the Supreme People's Procuratorate, said the issue of young people abusing narcotic and psychotropic drugs is outstanding. Young people, who are more curious and less capable of making sound judgments, are more easily persuaded by criminals to abuse drugs or engage in drug trafficking, Yuan said at a news conference in June last year.

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