Don't eat candy or snacks from strangers, don't drink a drink that has been out of your sight, and don't accept vape cartridges that others hand you

Cost

Free. Decline anything that is handed to you. If your own cup has been out of your sight, get a new one.

What you get

Drugs today don't look like drugs. Synthetic cannabinoids have been controlled as a whole class since July 1, 2021, and this whole large group is managed as drugs. Some people mix them into vape liquid to make "head-rush" vapes. In a case reported by the Supreme People's Procuratorate (最高检), the investigators described this liquid as something that "can be turned into all kinds of colors and flavors by adding food dyes" and is "basically identical in appearance to ordinary e-cigarettes." The sellers pitch to groups at bars, KTVs and hotels and induce others to use it. In the report, minors made up nearly 40% of the use cases handled locally that year. Etomidate has been on the list of Category II psychotropic substances since October 1, 2023. Tricking people into using is an offense in itself: anyone who lures, instigates, deceives or forces others to take or inject drugs gets 10 to 15 days of detention and a fine of 1000 to 5000 yuan. Where it amounts to a crime, the sentence is under 3 years, or 3 to 7 years in serious cases, and 3 to 10 years for forcing, with heavier punishment for targeting minors. The consequences also fall on the person tricked: anyone who takes or injects drugs gets 10 to 15 days of detention and may be fined up to 3000 yuan. In lighter cases, up to 5 days of detention or a fine of up to 1000 yuan. They may also be ordered, at the same time, not to enter entertainment venues for 6 months to 1 year. Those who are addicted are ordered into community drug rehabilitation for 3 years. Those who refuse community rehabilitation, or use again during it, are put into compulsory isolation rehabilitation for 2 years, which can be extended by up to 1 more year (nationwide; the Public Security Administration Punishments Law (治安管理处罚法), from January 2026).

Notes

This is not only about entertainment venues: the same goes for school gates, friends' gatherings and long-distance buses. Whether what is handed over is candy, a drink or a vape cartridge makes no difference. Being drugged is often followed by robbery, sexual assault and extortion, and there are no public official statistics on that part, so it is a judgment from experience. Getting a new drink whenever one has left your sight is far easier than dealing with it afterward. For what to do when someone in a venue takes out unknown powder, tablets or cartridges, see §22.3. For carrying things for others, see §8.29.

Evidence grade

A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.

Sources

1. 最高人民检察院 (2021). 江苏苏州吴江区：办案检察官揭秘披着潮流外衣的新型毒品. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/zdgz/202110/t20211011_531831.shtml
2. 国家药监局、公安部、国家卫生健康委 (2023). 关于调整麻醉药品和精神药品目录的公告（2023 年第 120 号）. https://yjj.sh.gov.cn/qtgzwj/20230911/3b612c94e35b4b63abba314c972a2593.html（上海市药监局转载，原文页 nmpa.gov.cn 在本机返回 412）
3. 全国人大常委会 (2025). 治安管理处罚法（2025 年修订，第八十四、八十五条）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202506/t20250627_699863.shtml
4. 全国人大 (1997). 刑法（第三百五十三条）. https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/201802/t20180206_364975.shtml
5. 全国人大常委会 (2007). 禁毒法（第三十三、三十八、四十七条）. http://www.gd.gov.cn/zwgk/wjk/zcfgk/content/post_2520706.html（广东省人民政府转载）

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 22, tip 4. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer