Phuket users warned after Thai lab finds methamphetamine-etomidate vape mix
A Thai laboratory has detected methamphetamine hydrochloride and etomidate in the same seized vape pod, prompting warnings over unconsciousness, heart failure and sudden death.
A nationwide Thai warning relevant to Phuket e-cigarette users has been issued after laboratory tests found methamphetamine hydrochloride and etomidate mixed in liquid from a single seized vape pod.
The Department of Medical Sciences said its Bureau of Drug and Narcotic examined the cartridge in June 2026. The pod contained a transparent orange liquid with methamphetamine hydrochloride at 3.56% and etomidate, a Category 2 psychotropic substance in Thailand.
Department director-general Dr Sarawut Boonsuk said this was the first time the department had detected both substances in the same e-cigarette liquid. He said the finding indicated a new pattern of illicit drug use and increased health risks for users.
The department warned that etomidate can suppress breathing and brain function, potentially causing unconsciousness. Methamphetamine stimulates the nervous system and increases the workload on the heart, raising the risk of an abnormal heartbeat and acute heart failure. The combination could cause a severe medical emergency and sudden death.
Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration reclassified etomidate as a Category 2 psychotropic substance on July 27, 2025, after evidence that it was being misused in vape liquids. The FDA has warned that such use can lead to unconsciousness, respiratory arrest or death.
