Taiwan confronts surge in drug-driving as new narcotics rapidly emerge - CNA
“Zombie vapes”, online dealers and new, unlisted narcotics. CNA examines how deadly drug-driving cases are a visible sign of a much wider drug problem in Taiwan.
Police officers conduct checks on motorcyclists at a late-night checkpoint in Taipei. (Image: CNA)
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Victoria Jen & Marcel Pereira 02 Oct 2026 11:06AM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST TAIPEI/KAOHSIUNG: Taiwan is known for having some of Asia's toughest drunk-driving laws, but authorities are now confronting another threat on its roads: Drug-driving.
At a late-night police checkpoint in Taipei, officers have only a few seconds to decide which vehicles require a closer look.
“We will pay attention to vehicles as they approach and after they spot our checkpoint, whether they brake suddenly, swerve or possibly make an abrupt stop by the roadside,” police sergeant Chen Kuan-ting told CNA.
Officers also check whether drivers appear unfocused or mentally sluggish.
When drug use is suspected, they can screen motorists on the spot using a saliva test. The test can detect substances including etomidate, an emerging drug commonly consumed through electronic cigarettes.
CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less A roadside saliva testing kit used by Taiwan police to screen drivers for suspected drug use. (Image: CNA) The introduction of roadside screening in 2025 has also helped police detect more cases.
Drug-driving cases rose from 43 in 2021 to 8,659 in 2025 – an increase of more than 200 times.
Crashes involving drug-driving killed 19 people and injured 229 in 2025, up from 11 deaths and 85 injuries a year earlier.
But drug-driving is only one part of a wider challenge, as Taiwan confronts a rapidly changing illicit drug market.
