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Hong Kong considers changing name of narcotic ‘space oil' to ‘zombie oil'

Hong Kong considers changing name of narcotic ‘space oil' to ‘zombie oil'

Hong Kong is considering changing the name of the illegal narcotic 'space oil' to 'zombie oil', as lawmakers raised concerns that the current title could romanticise the use of the drug.
Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Wednesday revealed the plan to rename space oil, whose main ingredient is the anaesthetic etomidate, after hearing feedback from the public.
'Some people shared the view that the name 'space oil' is not that good and could romanticise [its use], we also agree that there is a point there and we will review,' Tang told lawmakers.
He said different options were being considered, including just calling the drug 'etomidate'.
'Based on the behaviour after consumption, such as losing sanity, performing indecency in public, jumping into the roads and almost getting hit by cars, developing skin inflammation and ulceration, or having hormone imbalance … some people suggested if we should call it 'zombie oil',' Tang said.
'We are now collecting opinions and hope to set a better name in the short term.'

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Hong Kong considers changing name of narcotic ‘space oil' to ‘zombie oil'
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South China Morning Post

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Hong Kong considers changing name of narcotic ‘space oil' to ‘zombie oil'

Hong Kong is considering changing the name of the illegal narcotic 'space oil' to 'zombie oil', as lawmakers raised concerns that the current title could romanticise the use of the drug. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung on Wednesday revealed the plan to rename space oil, whose main ingredient is the anaesthetic etomidate, after hearing feedback from the public. 'Some people shared the view that the name 'space oil' is not that good and could romanticise [its use], we also agree that there is a point there and we will review,' Tang told lawmakers. He said different options were being considered, including just calling the drug 'etomidate'. 'Based on the behaviour after consumption, such as losing sanity, performing indecency in public, jumping into the roads and almost getting hit by cars, developing skin inflammation and ulceration, or having hormone imbalance … some people suggested if we should call it 'zombie oil',' Tang said. 'We are now collecting opinions and hope to set a better name in the short term.'

Schools to get space oil test kits next academic year
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Schools to get space oil test kits next academic year Secretary for Security Chris Tang told lawmakers on Wednesday that the space oil drug test kit that is slated for schools will be different from the one that the police use. Speaking in the Legislative Council, he said the government plans to roll out the kit for schools participating in an anti-drug initiative "Healthy School Programme" in the next academic year. Under the programme, drug tests are voluntary. Tang said the force's test strips, deployed since January, are used for making arrests and the case for prosecutions, and are not the same as those to be used in schools. "We take samples, including urine, hair or saliva, to test for the presence of drugs," he said. "So the objective is quite different. "The Healthy School Programme adopts a rehabilitation orientation." Between 2023 and the end of last month, there were 493 cases involving space oil drug use, Tang said, with around 70 percent of them involving people aged below 21. Lawmaker Dennis Lam asked if the government would consider renaming the drug, saying the current one may cause people to link it with Space X's missions. Tang said the government is now coming up with other names, with one potential candidate, "zombie oil", being based on the effects of taking the drug such as skin ulcers and inflammation.

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