Powerful anaesthetic that can stop breathing detected in illicit vapes sold in Melbourne
A powerful and dangerous anesthetic has been found in illegal e-cigarettes sold in Melbourne.
This substance can make a person unconscious, slow or stop breathing, and repeated ingestion of the substance may cause dizziness, confusion, and fainting.
The state health department issued the alert Monday, which featured an image of a slim, bronze/gold disposable e-cigarette with the branding “HSU,” “RELX” and a crown on top.
The powerful anesthetic substance found in vape is etomidate.
Victoria’s Department of Health says the substance can be fatal, especially if mixed with other substances.
“Etomidate can cause rapid onset of profound sedation, confusion, incoordination, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and dangerously slow or ineffective breathing,” the warning states.
“These effects can be life-threatening, especially when etomidate is used with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, GHB/1,4 BD/GBL, or other sedatives.”
The health department says electronic cigarettes and vaping products sold as “space oil,” “k-pod” or “space vapor” may also contain etomidate.
“Repeated exposure to etomidate may interfere with the body’s stress hormone system,” the warning states.
“This can cause weakness, dizziness, confusion, and fainting. This can be especially dangerous during periods of illness, injury, or other physical stress.”
Space oil, k-pod and space vape products may also contain “potent new opioids.”
Naloxone reverses an opioid overdose but does not relieve the person from the effects of etomidate.
Peer-reviewed information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine says etomidate is an ultra-short-acting anesthetic and is ideally used when someone is at risk of bleeding to death or has serious cardiovascular disease.
This substance is used for “rapid sequence intubation” and is used with stronger anesthetics to, among other things, keep the person unconscious for longer periods of time.
Legally, e-cigarettes in Victoria must only be sold in pharmacies, but illegal vape and tobacco shops are common in the city and suburbs.
The legislation, put forward by the state government earlier this month, proposed giving police powers to close illegal tobacco stores for 90 days for illegal tobacco sales; But it’s not an electronic cigarette.
Federally, the Minister of Health announced an overhaul of the laws regarding illegal e-cigarettes and their import from January 2024. Since then, Australian Border Force says it has seized approximately 19.4 million e-cigarettes, pods and related items valued at more than $1 billion.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that 80 per cent of cigarettes and nicotine products consumed last year were illegal products.
