The dangerous drug "Space Oil" will now have the official name "Etomidate" starting from today, according to Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung.
Etomidate is the main ingredient of the space oil drug, while it is also commonly used in clinical practice to induce anesthesia or to facilitate sedation.
It was up-regulated to a dangerous drug in February this year. Healthcare professionals should comply with relevant requirements on storage, issuance and maintain regular inspection when handling the drug.
The government initially intended to rename the drug to dispel its glamorous connotations, with names including "zombie oil" being suggested to reflect its debilitating effects.
Tang said that there were 327 recorded etomidate abusers in the first half of 2025, a 2.8-fold increase compared to the same period, exceeding the total for 2024. About 60 percent of these abusers were under the age of 21.
Etomidate related cases accounted for 460 in the first half of the year, a 13-fold increase over the same period, with 561 arrests.
Seizures of 300,000 etomidate cartridges were also reported this year, a 35-fold increase, according to the security chief.
