Hong Kong Health Authority Warns E-Cigarettes Becoming New Tool for Drug Abuse

Nov.28.2024

The Hong Kong Department of Health has issued a warning that e-cigarettes are becoming a new tool for drug abuse. The cartridges containing illegal drugs resemble regular e-liquid, highlighting the need for legislative restrictions.

According to a report by SCMP on November 27th, the Hong Kong Health Department has warned that e-cigarettes are increasingly being used as a tool for drug abuse, as these devices can easily be filled with drugs and are difficult to detect.

The Hong Kong Department of Health's subordinate agency, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office, said on Wednesday (27th) that they have recently dealt with cases where the "space oil" in e-cigarette pods appeared to be identical to the e-liquid contained in other products.

The head of the office, Dr. Fung Ying, pointed out that: "Those cartridges containing illegal drugs look no different from those with ordinary e-liquid."

Space oil" is one of the highly demanded drugs in the city, often found in e-cigarette pods. It contains etomidate, a prescription anesthetic categorized as a Schedule I controlled substance.

The Hong Kong government announced a series of proposed measures on June 10, including amending laws to ban the possession of alternative tobacco products. The Department of Health stated that they are currently drafting the details of the legislative proposal and have contacted lawmakers to seek their input. It is expected that these legislative amendments will be submitted to the Legislative Council by the end of 2024 or early 2025.

References:

[1] Hong Kong authorities warn that e-cigarettes could be tools for drug abuse

Also Read:

[1] RTHK.News Reports Crackdown on Shisha Smoking in Hong Kong

[2] Impact of Proposed Ban on Flavored Tobacco in Hong Kong

[3] Controversy over E-cigarette Ban: Impact on Hong Kong Tourism

[4] Hong Kong to Announces Tobacco Control Rules Focusing on Smoking in Queues

[5] Hong Kong Customs Launches Anti-Smuggling Operation "Storm" on February 19th

#Legislation #E-cigarettes #Asia #Hong Kong

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