The Hong Kong government has told schools that etomidate will be included in a voluntary testing scheme under the city’s school-based anti-drug programme in the 2025-26 academic year.
The Narcotics Division of the Security Bureau said on Tuesday that it had informed schools about the move, weeks after authorities renamed the drug, previously called “space oil.”
“The procedures for etomidate testing will follow that of other drugs – participating schools may opt for rapid urine tests or hair tests under the current testing procedures, and testing will only be conducted after receiving a student’s consent,” the government said in a press release.
The Narcotics Division on Tuesday also met with NGOs responsible for administering the drug tests to confirm etomidate testing details, the government added.
The drug has been popular among teenagers and is now the third most commonly abused drug among youth under 21 in Hong Kong, behind cannabis and cocaine, according to the authorities.
The voluntary testing scheme – under the broader Healthy School Programme, which also provides anti-drug education and activities – aims to help students stop abusing drugs, and the results will not be used for prosecution.
The testing scheme also covers ketamine, ecstasy, methylamphetamine, cannabis, and cocaine.
Currently, more than half of Hong Kong’s secondary schools participate in the programme, according to the government.
Etomidate was added to the Dangerous Drug Ordinance in February, putting it in the same ranks as ketamine and cocaine.
Possession of etomidate can be punished by up to seven years in jail and a fine of HK$1 million, while trafficking the drug risks life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million.
