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“Zombie Cigarettes” Are Japan’s New Recreational Drug Scare
The increasing popularity of the drug has some in the country calling for a complete ban on vaping to stop it in its tracks.
By Jay Andrew Allen
With its strict drug laws, it can be hard to get high in Japan. That leads some people to resort to any means necessary for a buzz. The latest dangerous trend is leading to calls for tighter regulations, with some calling for an outright ban on all vaping.
Zombie cigarettes: An anaesthetic in smokable form
Heated tobacco products (HTP) in Japan are popular and readily available. By contrast, vaping is in a weird Twilight Zone. It’s legal to buy vaping pens. It’s not legal to sell vaping liquid. However, there are no restrictions on purchasing vaping cartridges from abroad.
Some vaping users are adding a little extra something to their cartridges, though. That “something” is etomidate, an intravenous anaesthetic.
Developed in 1964 in the United States, etomidate is used for general anaesthesia and sedation. It’s often employed for conscious sedation for its rapid onset effects. It doesn’t lead to a rapid drop in blood pressure, giving it a safer cardiovascular profile than similar anaesthetics.
