On June 26, the Kinki Regional Bureau of Health announced the arrest of two individuals in their 20s and 30s in Osaka for suspected violations of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act related to the use of the designated drug etomidate, commonly known as 'zombie tobacco'. The suspects, Naoto Usuki (32) and Kanna Tateishi (24), have reportedly admitted to using etomidate and expressed severe cravings associated with its use. They described experiences of dizziness and a strong urge for water after using the drug, likening their cravings to those experienced in a desert, costing them hundreds of thousands of yen in purchases.

The Kinki Regional Bureau of Health stated that both suspects are believed to have ingested not only etomidate but also other drugs, including stimulants and marijuana, between mid and late January of this year. They were initially arrested on January 26 for possessing approximately 4 grams of stimulants and marijuana at their home. Usuki was subsequently indicted for violating the Stimulants Control Act related to possession, while investigations into the other drug-related incidents are ongoing. The authorities confiscated cartridges containing etomidate, along with various other drugs, during the raid on their residence.

Etomidate, which is used in some countries as a sedative, is not approved for use in Japan. Its excessive consumption can lead to severe side effects such as muscle spasms and loss of consciousness, hence the nickname 'zombie tobacco'. The recent emergence of etomidate-related incidents has raised concerns in Japan, evidenced by the arrest and indictment earlier this year of former professional baseball player Ryutaro Hazuki for the same drug use.