Authorities have stepped up crackdowns in Thailand as the problem of illegal e-cigarettes, known as “zombie cigarettes,” has spread due to the fact that they contain the drug ingredient “Etomidate.”
According to local media such as the Bangkok Post and the Nation, Ankun Pruet Sanusak, a deputy spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office, urged caution, saying, “Drug traffickers are developing new synthetic drugs to attract users,” adding, “Zombie cigarettes are spreading through entertainment areas such as Bangkok’s passages and online.”
Etomidate, the ingredient of zombie cigarettes that he pointed out as a recent trend, is called the “second propofol” and is used as a general anesthetic for medical purposes. It can cause severe drowsiness and slow breathing. In addition, low blood pressure and nausea appear, and in severe cases, it can lead to an unconscious state.
“In particular, teenagers should be aware of the dangers of e-cigarettes containing drugs, including zombie cigarettes, and parents should closely monitor their children if they show signs of abnormalities,” deputy spokesperson An Kun said. “Most e-cigarettes sold illegally can be fatal because it is difficult to know the exact ingredients or contents.”
In Thailand, the use of e-cigarettes itself is illegal, but it is known that e-cigarettes can be easily purchased on the streets around entertainment areas.
As more teenagers smoke e-cigarettes, three teenage girls were taken to a school in the northeastern state of Buriram last week due to symptoms of vomiting and shortness of breath. They reportedly smoked e-cigarettes and drank kratom juice, a plant with psychotropic effects. Thai Prime Minister Patton Shinawatra ordered Thursday to crack down on imports and distribution of e-cigarettes and prepare for revision of laws to strengthen punishment.
JULIE KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
