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Shi Huang

China has banned tiletamine, a common veterinary anaesthetic, after its recreational inhalation among young people escalated sharply.
Since July 1, the compound has been classified as a controlled substance and is regulated as strictly as fentanyl.
Tiletamine has a chemical structure similar to ketamine, commonly known as “K powder”, and it was mainly used for surgical anaesthesia in pets such as cats and dogs.
However, the substance can be vaporised in so-called heady e-cigarettes to induce dissociative highs, exploiting a prior regulatory vacuum. After inhalation, users can experience visual and auditory hallucinations and dissociation of consciousness.
Since it had not previously been included on the drug list, it quickly became popular in China, especially in entertainment venues such as billiard halls, discos, nightclubs and bars.
“From November 2025 to early January 2026, in the city of Shenyang alone, 1,605 individuals were investigated and educated for the abuse of tiletamine,” a paper published in the fifth issue of the 2026 Policing Studies in Chinese said.
According to a Beijing-based drug research expert, the first major spike in tiletamine abuse in China occurred between November 2023 and March 2024.
“There are two factors at play here,” said the expert, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the media. “One is that in September 2023, the state classified common drugs previously found in e-cigarettes as controlled substances.
“This outbreak reflects a new drug trend where, once a substance is regulated, a new substitute quickly emerges. The other factor is the concentrated outbreak during holidays in entertainment venues.”


Drug overdose is a growing problem among young people in China. According to data from the Ministry of Public Security, in 2024, there was a structural change in the types of substances abused domestically, with the rapid spread of narcotics and unlisted addictive substances, particularly among adolescents.
Long-term, low-dose inhalation of e-cigarettes containing tiletamine can easily lead to hallucinations, confusion of consciousness and nerve damage. By contrast, high-dose inhalation may cause general anaesthesia, respiratory depression and even death.
“Previously, the difficulty in managing this drug was because tiletamine was almost the only anaesthesia option available in pet hospitals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs may not agree,” the expert said.
Meanwhile, since tiletamine was not yet classified as a controlled substance, there was no legal basis for its regulation and deciding court cases has been a challenge.
According to an announcement by the Shanghai Municipal People’s Procuratorate in March, between January and July 2024, a gang of seven individuals in Shanghai sold e-cigarette cartridges containing tiletamine worth 1.4 million yuan (US$206,000).
The seven individuals could only be sentenced for producing and selling counterfeit or substandard products, receiving prison terms ranging from 2 years to 8 years and 11 months.
These are significantly lighter sentences than those handed down for selling other controlled drugs in China. However, this loophole has now been closed.
Shan Yehua, deputy director of the National Narcotics Control Commission Office and deputy director of the Narcotics Control Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, said on June 17 that China had added 16 substances, including tiletamine, to the Supplementary List of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances without Medical-use Purposes.

“The 16 substances added this time, including tiletamine, are varieties that have been monitored and found to be severely abused and at high risk of diversion since 2025,” Shan said.
“Among them, tiletamine, illegally manufactured by underground processing plants, is heavily added to ‘heady e-cigarettes’ for inhalation and abuse. The main abusers are adolescents and the substance is highly addictive, posing significant social harm.”
The Beijing-based drug research expert said: “Now, following the inclusion, behaviours involving tiletamine-related activities would directly be subject to the drug crime provisions and, depending on the circumstances, could result in a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, life imprisonment or even the death penalty.”
An online search and calls to veterinary clinics indicated that tiletamine and related products had been banned from online sales.
Additionally, a veterinary prescription will be required for verification, and it is strictly prohibited to obtain under the guise of veterinary use for human consumption. However, the potential for drug overdoses and related issues remains severe in China.
“There are still many things beyond control,” the expert said. “As early as several decades ago, mixed drug [use] was already prevalent in Northeast China. Some guy figured out that taking several types of drugs together would give you a boost.”


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China

The compound has a similar chemical structure to ketamine and has been classified as a controlled substance following an upswing in abuse


The compound has a similar chemical structure to ketamine and has been classified as a controlled substance following an upswing in abuse.


Shanghai

Ministry of State Security

China bans pet anaesthetic tiletamine after waves of young people vape drug

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The compound has a similar chemical structure to ketamine and has been classified as a controlled substance following an upswing in abuse

The compound has a similar chemical structure to ketamine and has been classified as a controlled substance following an upswing in abuse