Health Psychology Research
Psychosocial pathways of etomidate misuse among Chinese youth in drug rehabilitation institutions
By Lan Wang, Zhuo Chen, Chengzhi Zheng and 6 others.
Abstract
Background
Etomidate, an ultra-short-acting gamma-aminobutyric acid type A anesthetic, has been widely misused across East and Southeast Asia. By 2024, it became the most frequently misused anesthetic or psychotropic substance in China, with 86.4% of users younger than 35.
Objective
This study explored how young people recruited from Chinese drug rehabilitation institutions initiated and sustained etomidate vaping, attempted to stop, and understood the psychosocial factors associated with continued use and return to use.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 103 participants (aged 15–35) with a history of etomidate misuse, recruited from drug rehabilitation institutions. Transcripts were analyzed using codebook-oriented thematic analysis.