Source : Perth Now news
A powerful and dangerous anaesthetic has been found in illicit vapes sold in Melbourne.
The substance can make someone unconscious, slow or stop their breathing, and repeated intake of the substance can cause dizziness, confusion and collapse.
The state health department issued the alert on Monday, with a picture of a thin, bronze/gold disposable vape with the branding “HSU”, “RELX” and a crown printed on it.
The powerful anaesthetic substance found in the vape is etomidate.
The Victorian Department of Health says the substance can be deadly, particularly if mixed with other substances.
“Etomidate can cause rapid onset deep sedation, confusion, impaired co-ordination, vomiting, loss of consciousness and dangerously slow or ineffective breathing,” the alert says.
“These effects may be life-threatening, especially if etomidate is used with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, GHB/1,4 BD/GBL or other sedatives.”
The health department says vapes and vape products sold as “space oil”, “k-pods”, or “space vapes” might also contain etomidate.
“Repeated exposure to etomidate may interfere with the body’s stress hormone system,” the alert says.
“This can cause weakness, dizziness, confusion, and collapse. This can be dangerous, especially during a period of illness, injury or other physical stress.”
The space oil, k-pod and space vape products may also contain “potent novel opioids”.
Naloxone reverses opioid overdose, but does not save someone from the effects of etomidate.
Peer-reviewed information from the US National Library of Medicine says etomidate is an ultrashort-acting anaesthetic, ideally used when someone is at risk of bleeding to death or someone with significant cardiovascular disease.
The substance is used for “rapid sequence intubation”, and among other things is used alongside stronger anaesthetics to keep a person unconscious for longer.
Legally, vapes in Victoria should only be sold at pharmacies, but illicit vape and tobacco stores are prevalent across the city and suburbs.
Earlier this month, legislation put forward by the state government proposed giving police the power to shut down illicit tobacco stores for 90 days for selling illegal tobacco; but not vapes.
Federally, the Health Minister announced an overhaul of the laws around illicit vapes and their importation, effective January 2024. Since then, the Australian Border Force says it has seized about 19.4 million vapes, pods and related items, worth more than $1bn.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates 80 per cent of cigarettes and nicotine products consumed last year were illegal products.
