TikTok Accused of Popularizing 'Zombie Smoke Bombs' Among Taiwanese Youth

Chinese short-video platforms, particularly TikTok, are accused of packaging and promoting "zombie smoke bombs" – vapes containing the anesthetic etomidate – as fashionable and de-risked items, thereby making them appealing to adolescents. Police analysis indicates that the algorithms on these platforms actively push such content to young viewers, contributing to a continuous cycle of drug use and posing a significant challenge to eradicating drugs from school campuses.

Etomidate, which can be used to create "zombie smoke bombs," has been reclassified as a Category 1 narcotic. While recent police crackdowns show a slight decrease in adult users, the rate of exposure among students and teenagers has not significantly declined. Statistics from the New Taipei City Juvenile Police Department reveal that in the first half of the year, 69 minors were apprehended for using Schedule 1 or 2 drugs. Alarmingly, up to 70% of these cases involved etomidate or similar substances, indicating a persistent problem.

Police emphasize that minors who test positive for drugs are enrolled in the "Chunhui Project" for guidance and monitoring, and efforts are underway to trace the drug sources. The "zombie smoke bombs" are often mixed with various fruit flavors, and their use can be mistaken for vaping electronic cigarettes by onlookers, who may not associate it with drug use. Schools primarily rely on urine tests for monitored students, making it difficult to identify potential drug use otherwise.

Adding to the problem, platforms like TikTok and Xiaohongshu, which are popular among minors, utilize algorithms that respond to peer-influenced terminology related to drug use. These algorithms then flood young users with videos that package drugs as trendy and fashionable, omitting crucial information about side effects like seizures and loss of control. This creates a dangerous illusion among students that drug use is not a serious issue.

Police believe that combating drug infiltration in schools requires a multi-faceted approach beyond just increasing criminal penalties. They advocate for enhanced management of digital social platforms to curb the spread of drug-related content and protect young people from its influence.