China Targets Drug-Laced E-Cigarettes Amid Surge in Youth Addiction

Drug-laced e-cigarettes have become the primary vehicle for drug abuse among Chinese youth, prompting China’s highest court to issue a stark warning as authorities crack down on synthetic substances that are now outpacing heroin in popularity.

So-called “heady e-cigarettes” — vape pens containing the anesthetic etomidate — are proliferating rapidly among teenagers. The Supreme People's Court recently published typical criminal cases involving new types of drugs to highlight the severe threat these disguised narcotics pose to minors.