Substances similar to etomidate to be categorized as controlled substances
Taiwan to Tighten Control on Research-Grade Narcotics
The Justice Ministry's Commission on Narcotic Drugs has classified certain substances, including those similar to etomidate, as Class II narcotics, effective from May 29. This reclassification is in line with their categorization as narcotics by the Ministry of Justice.
These controlled substances will now be subject to strict regulations for their use in academic or scientific work. Researchers in Taiwan will be required to obtain permits from the government authorities to legally possess, use, import, export, produce, store, and sell these substances.
The permit application and review process is overseen by committees established by the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Health. These committees regularly assess controlled substances' classifications every three months, and any adjustments to regulations are reported to the Executive Yuan and Legislative Yuan.
Institutions holding permits for controlled drugs must maintain detailed daily logs recording the quantity, usage, storage, and handling of the substances. This record-keeping helps prevent diversion and ensures regulatory compliance and transparency. Authorities such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and local government units may conduct inspections of manufacturers’ or research facilities’ records and premises to verify compliance concerning the handling and storage of these substances.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to list butomidate, trifluoroethyl, flutomidate, and several substances with similar molecular formulas as "Schedule 2 controlled drugs." This new classification aims to tighten control of substances like butomidate, which are mainly used in scientific research. The FDA announced this plan on July 4, and the classification is pending official publication by the Executive Yuan to take effect.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes categorizes butomidate as "sedatives/hypnotics" on its website. The UN office cooperated with the US Drug Enforcement Administration in developing an "Early Warning Advisory" for one of the six groups of "new psychoactive substances," which includes butomidate.
This reclassification is due to the detection of these substances in investigations by law enforcement authorities. The UN office operates an online "Tox-Portal" to share data on toxicology and harm related to the use of new psychoactive substances around the world.
Etomidate, also known as "zombie vape" in Taiwan, "space oil" in Hong Kong, and "Kpod" in Singapore, has caused deaths as street drugs taken by vaping. The new FDA classification aims to prevent the misuse of these substances and ensure safe, legal research.
Failure to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Controlled Drugs Act carries a fine of NT$60,000 to NT$300,000. The FDA's controlled drugs division deputy head is Chang Chih-hsu. The new classification was also subject to a 14-day public consultation period before it could take effect, which ended on July 18.
This article serves as a reminder that the use of controlled substances, even in scientific research, is subject to stringent regulations. Researchers must adhere to these regulations to ensure the safety and integrity of their work while preventing the misuse of these substances.
Scientists conducting research involving medical-conditions should be aware that certain substances used in health-and-wellness, such as butomidate, flutomidate, and similar substances, are now classified as Schedule 2 controlled drugs due to misuse concerns. Mental-health is an important aspect to consider, as the tightened control aims to prevent these substances from being used as street drugs, ensuring a safer environment for both researchers and the general public.
