Premier Cho Jung-tai: 'Zombie Vape' Can Ruin a Life in Seconds; Law Amendments to Increase Penalties
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai has convened multiple meetings to formulate countermeasures against the emerging drug 'zombie vape' (etomidate), which has been frequently linked to drug-impaired driving incidents. The government will amend laws to increase penalties. Premier Cho urged young people in a video not to ruin their lives for a few seconds of thrill. The Ministry of Justice will hold a drug review committee meeting in mid-June to discuss upgrading etomidate from a Schedule II to a Schedule I drug. The Ministry of Education is also considering introducing saliva testing in schools, with the earliest implementation targeted for the 2026 academic year.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 3, 2026 at 11:41
- 🔍 Collected: June 3, 2026 at 11:54 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 22:14 (82h 19m after Collected)
(CNA reporter Lai Yu-chen, Taipei, June 3) Amid a spate of incidents involving emerging drugs like etomidate (commonly known as 'zombie vape'), a Cabinet official said today that Premier Cho Jung-tai has convened several meetings to formulate countermeasures, which will include amending laws to increase penalties. The Premier also used a video to remind young people that using 'zombie vapes' is not cool, as a few seconds of stimulation can ruin an entire life.
Drug-impaired driving incidents are occurring frequently, with the 'zombie vape' etomidate, often used in e-cigarettes, being a major culprit. The Cabinet official noted that today is 'June 3 No-Smoking Day,' referencing Lin Zexu's destruction of opium in Humen, Guangdong, in 1839, warning that failure to act would leave China without soldiers to fight or silver to fund the military. 187 years later, the official said, Taiwan faces a similar drug scourge, with etomidate harming public health and destroying the next generation.
The official stated that Premier Cho has recently held multiple meetings with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and Ministry of Health and Welfare to devise strategies for cracking down on etomidate and preventing drug-impaired driving, with each ministry proposing relevant legal amendments. Meanwhile, anti-drug agencies including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Coast Guard Administration, and Customs Administration have also proposed improvement measures, which will be announced to the public soon.
In a video released on the evening of June 2, Premier Cho stated that the government has zero tolerance for drug-related crimes and will amend regulations to increase penalties and strengthen enforcement. He also appealed to young people, saying that just as they would not eat expired or unclean food, they should not try toxic substances, urging them not to ruin their lifelong health for a few seconds of thrill or to follow a trend.
According to sources, the Executive Yuan will hear a report from the Ministry of Justice on the current enforcement situation regarding 'zombie vapes' at its meeting on June 4. The Ministry of Justice will also convene a Drug Review Committee around mid-June to discuss whether to upgrade etomidate-type drugs from a Schedule II to a Schedule I controlled substance.
Various ministries have recently announced measures to strengthen the response to etomidate. The Ministry of Education is considering incorporating saliva testing as a rapid auxiliary tool for early risk identification in schools, with the earliest implementation targeted for the 115th academic year starting in September 2026. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will confiscate e-cigarettes and impose fines for possession, while the Ministry of Digital Affairs will require e-commerce platforms to strengthen the review and removal of related prohibited items. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150603
Drug-impaired driving incidents are occurring frequently, with the 'zombie vape' etomidate, often used in e-cigarettes, being a major culprit. The Cabinet official noted that today is 'June 3 No-Smoking Day,' referencing Lin Zexu's destruction of opium in Humen, Guangdong, in 1839, warning that failure to act would leave China without soldiers to fight or silver to fund the military. 187 years later, the official said, Taiwan faces a similar drug scourge, with etomidate harming public health and destroying the next generation.
The official stated that Premier Cho has recently held multiple meetings with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Transportation and Communications, and Ministry of Health and Welfare to devise strategies for cracking down on etomidate and preventing drug-impaired driving, with each ministry proposing relevant legal amendments. Meanwhile, anti-drug agencies including the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Coast Guard Administration, and Customs Administration have also proposed improvement measures, which will be announced to the public soon.
In a video released on the evening of June 2, Premier Cho stated that the government has zero tolerance for drug-related crimes and will amend regulations to increase penalties and strengthen enforcement. He also appealed to young people, saying that just as they would not eat expired or unclean food, they should not try toxic substances, urging them not to ruin their lifelong health for a few seconds of thrill or to follow a trend.
According to sources, the Executive Yuan will hear a report from the Ministry of Justice on the current enforcement situation regarding 'zombie vapes' at its meeting on June 4. The Ministry of Justice will also convene a Drug Review Committee around mid-June to discuss whether to upgrade etomidate-type drugs from a Schedule II to a Schedule I controlled substance.
Various ministries have recently announced measures to strengthen the response to etomidate. The Ministry of Education is considering incorporating saliva testing as a rapid auxiliary tool for early risk identification in schools, with the earliest implementation targeted for the 115th academic year starting in September 2026. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will confiscate e-cigarettes and impose fines for possession, while the Ministry of Digital Affairs will require e-commerce platforms to strengthen the review and removal of related prohibited items. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150603