Hong Kong Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung announced on Thursday that authorities have renamed the recreational drug commonly called “space oil drug” as “etomidate”, its main chemical ingredient, with the goal of stripping away the misleading glamorization of the narcotic and highlighting its dangers.

Speaking to the news media on Thursday afternoon, Tang highlighted an alarming increase of etomidate-related incidents, with seizures of etomidate cartridges soaring to 250,000 in the first half of this year — a staggering 35 times higher than the 7,000 confiscated during the same period last year.

In the first six months of this year, reported abuse cases also surged nearly threefold to 327, surpassing last year’s total, with over 60 percent of users younger than 21. Police recorded 460 etomidate-related cases, a thirteenfold rise, and arrested 561 suspects, marking a ninefold annual increase.

READ MORE: HK classifies main ingredient of space oil as dangerous drug

Often vaped through e-cigarettes, etomidate can produce short-term euphoria and cause addiction.

Tang said the name “space oil” creates an illusion that the drug brings happiness and normal behavior, when in reality it causes severe harm like loss of consciousness.

“We have to properly name it as ‘etomidate’ so that we can eradicate the positive sign of the name of the drug,” Tang said, underscoring the government’s commitment to combating etomidate abuse.

As a prescription anesthetic, etomidate, along with all its analogues, has been listed as a dangerous drug by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.

To further strengthen public awareness of the dangers of etomidate abuse, a large-scale anti-drug event will be held on Sunday at 3 pm at Domain Mall in Yau Tong.

During the event, the authorities will announce details of the new phase of anti-drug initiatives, including a 24-hour police hotline for reporting drug-related activities, as well as enhanced reporting channels to encourage public cooperation in combating etomidate trafficking.

Doctor-turned-legislator Dennis Lam Shun-chiu welcomed the renaming decision, emphasizing that the former nickname inappropriately romanticized the drug, evoking feelings of space travel rather than its severe health risks. The shift to its clinical term could eliminate public misconceptions and heighten awareness of the drug’s dangers, he said.

READ MORE: HK customs seizes ‘space oil’ ingredient worth HK$14 million

Lam also highlighted the growing use of e-cigarettes as a discreet method for consuming etomidate, complicating detection efforts.

He urged the Legislative Council (LegCo) to expedite passage of the Tobacco Control Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 to further control e-cigarettes, thereby protecting youth from emerging drug threats.

Trafficking and illicit manufacturing etomidate and its analogues are punishable by up to life imprisonment and a fine of up to HK$5 million ($636,900), while possessing and consuming these substances can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a fine of HK$1 million.

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com