TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA) issued a warning Friday (Oct. 25) about e-cigarettes being sold online under the guise of “electronic candy.”

E-cigarettes, or vapes, were made illegal in Taiwan in 2023. Using e-cigarettes can result in a fine of up to NT$10,000 (US$312).

E-cigarette use among junior high school students increased from 1.9% in 2017 to 3.9% in 2021, the HPA survey showed. Among senior high school students, the rate rose from 3.4% to 8.8% during the same period.

It is estimated that over 79,000 adolescents use e-cigarettes, which pose a serious health risk. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can be addictive and harmful to the developing brains of teenagers and fetuses.

E-cigarettes contain harmful chemicals that can cause cancer. A study in South Korea found that high school students who vape are more than twice as likely to develop asthma compared to those who never vape.

Tobacco companies are using deceptive marketing tactics to attract young people, the HPA noted. These companies combine flavors and cute packaging to disguise e-cigarettes as candy, using code words like "candy," "electronic candy," "milk tea," and "eJuice."

Also, e-liquid, cartridges, and batteries are often sold online disguised as different products. 

The much-discussed “zombie vape” contains the anesthetic drug etomidate. Long-term use can cause addiction, adrenal problems, and impaired focus, per UDN.

Law enforcement has cautioned that the Class III drug can cause disorientation, loss of motor control, and seizures. Its rapid onset makes it a significant risk for impaired driving, as numerous recent traffic accidents involving e-cigarettes have tested positive for etomidate.

The Ministry of Justice plans to reclassify etomidate from a Class III controlled substance to a Class II controlled substance, which will mean stricter regulations and punishments. The meeting to discuss this change is scheduled for late November or early December.