Julia Prastini case raises concerns over etomidate use in vape cartridges
Indonesian police and health officials are investigating the reported use of the hospital anaesthetic etomidate in vape cartridges after the arrest of social-media personality Julia Prastini in Jakarta, highlighting safety concerns over…
By Mukmin John
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Jakarta — — Indonesian police and health officials are investigating the reported use of the anaesthetic drug etomidate in electronic cigarettes after the arrest of social-media personality Julia Prastini, known as Jule, in Jakarta in mid-September 2026.
Police from the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Resort Police arrested Prastini in a South Jakarta apartment on 14 September 2026 as part of an investigation into vape cartridges suspected of containing etomidate, according to police statements reported by several Indonesian media outlets.
Officers said they seized vape cartridges believed to contain etomidate at the apartment and that a subsequent urine test on Prastini was positive for the substance, according to reports citing Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police narcotics investigators and regional police spokespeople.
What etomidate is
Etomidate is a short-acting intravenous anaesthetic used to induce general anaesthesia or deep sedation, particularly in emergency and critical-care settings.
Pharmacology references describe etomidate as a hypnotic agent that acts on the central nervous system by enhancing the activity of gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a neurotransmitter that inhibits nerve signal transmission in the brain.
The drug’s clinical use is typically limited to hospital environments, where it is administered by injection in carefully controlled doses.
In that context, etomidate is valued for inducing loss of consciousness rapidly while generally causing less cardiovascular depression than some other anaesthetic agents, making it an option for patients with unstable blood pressure or severe trauma.
These regulated medical uses differ fundamentally from the contents of common nicotine or flavouring-based vapes sold for recreational use.
Etomidate and vaping
In media interviews, pharmacology experts have warned that etomidate is not designed for inhalation and that its safety profile has been established for intravenous use rather than as an aerosol.
Etomidate and other anaesthetic agents are formulated to be stable at body temperature when injected; heating the substance in a vape device may change its chemical structure and could generate decomposition products with unknown or potentially harmful effects.
Specialists also note that when anaesthetic drugs are used in hospital procedures, doses are calculated based on a patient’s weight, medical condition and other factors, and the drug is administered under monitoring.
By contrast, inhalation through a consumer vape device offers no established method for accurately measuring how much active substance reaches the bloodstream, making dose control difficult and raising the risk of inadvertent overdose.
There are additional concerns about lung health: vapourised solutions containing anaesthetic drugs or other chemicals may introduce irritants or toxic particles into the respiratory system, with little data available on long-term effects.
Existing clinical literature and expert commentary do not describe etomidate as a standard or approved ingredient in vaping products.
What is reported in the Prastini case
Police statements cited by Indonesian media say Prastini’s arrest followed an earlier operation in Jakarta in which officers seized vape cartridges suspected of containing etomidate and detained two women alleged to be involved in distributing the products.
Investigators then moved to a South Jakarta apartment, where they reported finding multiple vape cartridges associated with Prastini.
According to those reports, officers said that several cartridges recovered at the apartment were empty or had been used, while one cartridge remained full and was suspected of containing etomidate.
Police also stated that Prastini admitted to using a vape containing etomidate for approximately two to three weeks prior to her arrest, citing personal reasons such as stress.
Following the urine test that police said showed etomidate use, authorities indicated that Prastini was being treated as a user rather than as a distributor in the case and that she would be directed to medical rehabilitation under Indonesia’s narcotics framework.
What remains unclear
Publicly available reports do not specify the exact concentration of etomidate in the seized vape cartridges, the full chemical composition of the liquids or the results of any detailed laboratory analysis beyond the initial screening that prompted the investigation.
They also do not provide clinical documentation of Prastini’s physical condition at the time of arrest or describe any acute medical symptoms attributed to etomidate inhalation in her case.
Health and law-enforcement authorities have said they are continuing to examine the products and the supply chain, including the origin of the cartridges and any links to broader distribution networks.
For readers, the main distinction is between etomidate’s regulated status as a hospital anaesthetic administered by professionals, and its reported use in an improvised vaping context where dose, composition and safety are poorly understood and remain under investigation.
Sources
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