China bans pet anesthetic tiletamine after youth vaping epidemic

China has officially banned tiletamine, a common veterinary anesthetic used for cats and dogs, following a surge in recreational use among young people who vape the compound in e-cigarettes. Effective July 1, 2026, the substance is now classified as a controlled substance under the same strict regulations as fentanyl. Tiletamine's chemical structure resembles ketamine (known as "K powder"), and when inhaled, it produces visual and auditory hallucinations along with a dissociative state. Prior to the ban, the drug existed in a regulatory loophole—legal for veterinary use but not listed as a prohibited narcotic—making it easily accessible in entertainment venues like billiard halls, discos, nightclubs, and bars.

According to a paper published in the 2026 Policing Studies in China, from November 2025 to early January 2026 alone, 1,605 individuals in Shenyang were investigated and educated for tiletamine abuse. The rapid escalation of use, particularly via vaporized e-cigarettes, prompted the government to act. By categorizing the drug alongside fentanyl, authorities aim to curb its spread and send a strong signal about the dangers of misusing veterinary medicines. The ban closes the regulatory gap that allowed tiletamine to become a recreational substance, highlighting China's ongoing struggle with new psychoactive substances emerging from otherwise legitimate products.