New Policies Illustrate Lai Administration’s Hardline Stance on Drugs

English

Photo Credit: Chi-Hung Lin/WikiCommons/CC BY-SA 2.0

THE LAI ADMINISTRATION has announced the re-categorization of etomidate to be a Category 1 Narcotic. As a result, manufacturing, transporting, or selling etomidate may be punishable by death.

Currently, etomidate is classified as a category 2 narcotic. It is used in what are commonly referred to as “zombie vapes,” a new form of drug abuse. There is increased scrutiny on the use of etomidate after a series of deadly car accidents involving users of such “zombie vapes.”

Specifically, this has been framed as the rise of “drug driving”, as contrasted with “drunk driving.” Suggestions were that drug usage DUI is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol and so should be treated separately, as well as that driving under the influence of drugs should see stiffer penalties compared to alcohol-related offenses.

Drug driving has been in the headlines after several incidents in May. On May 4th, a car collision that involved the driver of a BMW hitting a scooter and another car, killing two and injuring two more. On May 22nd, a vehicle ran into a hotpot restaurant, killing two and injuring two others. The victims of the crash were members of the family who ran the hotpot restaurant, who had just closed the establishment and were sitting in front of it.

The next day, on May 23rd, a truck crashed into a residential building in Changhua, killing two and injuring one. One day later, on May 24th, a car ran over a motorcycle rider and passenger in Zhonghe in New Taipei. Later on May 30th, a truck driver who was transporting gasoline canisters was also found to be driving under the influence of etomidate vape.

In the wake of such incidents, there were calls to tighten laws about testing for the use of etomidate vapes, when previous testing might not have detected the rapid breakdown of such products. Etomidate has a half-life of two to three hours, as a result of which current tests may not detect its use. Some suggestions have been to lower the legal detection threshold for etomidate usage, as well as means of testing in order to account for how such products are normally used.

Indeed, one notes a sharp uptick in the number of driving under the influence (DUI) cases related to drug usage that were detected this year between January and April, which has seen a threefold increase since testing methods were changed. 4,725 drug-related DUI cases were detected this year. At the same time, only 16.73% of cases were found to be related to etomidate, while 21.88% were related to ketamine, and 70.06% were related to methamphetamine.

Still, it proves all too typical that some calls were to publicly shame repeat offenders, with some cities beginning to publicize the names and photos of frequent offenders. That the DPP has begun measures which would classify etomidate users as subject to the death penalty evidences the persistence of Draconian attitudes toward drug use in Taiwan, such that the issue is seen as one that should be punished strictly, rather than understanding that drug users may be in need of rehabilitation and treatment.

Indeed, in responding to social panic about “drug driving”, one notes that the government has in recent times proposed revoking the driver’s license of individuals found to have used cannabis overseas in places where its use is legal. Previously, the government had attempted to target advocates of cannabis decriminalization using laws against incitement to drug use, raising concerns from freedom of speech advocates. It can be expected that the Taiwanese government will continue to be heavy-handed on the issue of drug use, then.