Space Oil has, according to the Hong Kong government, become the third-most popular drug of choice for under-21s in the city after cannabis and cocaine. The findings were revealed in a report by the Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) in September last year, and since then authorities have enacted a slew of measures to restrict its use in the SAR. In February, the territory’s Narcotics Division classified etomidate — the main ingredient used to create the substance — as a dangerous drug, thereby outlawing its possession and consumption. Find out everything you need to know about Hong Kong’s space oil ban — from what the drug it is and how it’s used, to its associated fines and prison sentences.
What is Space Oil?
According to ACAN Chairman Dr Donald Li, the term “space oil” is a name coined by drug dealers to describe “a kind of liquid with harmful substances added illegally”. There’s no set formula for space oil, but it usually contains an anaesthetic called etomidate, which can only be prescribed by a doctor. It can also be mixed with other drugs, such as cannabis, methamphetamine (commonly known as Ice), and ketamine. Li has also said that using space oil can result in “addiction, memory loss, seizure, unconsciousness, and even death”.
Space oil is popular for its fast-acting calming effects, which typically begin within 30-60 seconds of inhalation. It’s also relatively cheap, costing about HK$200 per pod, and usually comes in fruity aromas, courtesy the flavoured glycerine used to make the etomidate-infused capsules. The delivery system is relatively simple — all a user needs is an e-cigarette, though the vaping ban that’s set to begin in mid-2026 will likely make procuring these alternative smoking products more difficult.
Hong Kong’s Crackdown on Space Oil
While Hong Kong police said there were fewer young people involved in serious drug cases in 2024 than the previous year, authorities said there was a “noticeable increase” in the number of e-cigarettes used to consume space oil, with the force arresting 61 people under the age of 21 for this offence. Officers started using Etomidate Rapid Test Kits in mid-January this year to quickly detect the main component of the drug, and various government agencies have been conducting awareness drives across the territory to educate the public about the potential dangers of space oil.
In February 2025, Hong Kong took its biggest step in its fight against space oil by amending the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance to include etomidate, which was previously only classified as a Part 1 poison under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations. Now, anyone found trafficking and manufacturing etomidate can get life imprisonment and a fine of HK$5 million, while offenders found using and carrying the drug will get a HK$1 million fine and up to seven years in jail. The ban also applies to etomidate analogues metomidate, propoxate, and isopropoxate — chemical compounds that can have similar effects as etomidate.
Since then, police have made at least two space oil-related arrests at the Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan — both adults over 25 year old. However, as of this writing, there have been no reports of teens being taken into custody for using or possessing the substance after the ban came into effect.
Header image credit: Muhamad Lutfi via Pexels
