SINGAPORE – The youngest vape abuser caught in Singapore so far is just 10 years old, said Health Sciences Authority (HSA) chief executive Raymond Chua.
Beyond the worrying trend of younger users, vapes here have also been found laced with illicit substances such as ketamine, cannabis and benzhexol, he added.
Benzhexol is used medically to reduce tremors and muscle stiffness in those who suffer from movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
Speaking to The Straits Times on July 29 for the first time since harsher penalties on vaping kicked in on Sept 1, 2025, Chua said: “What keeps me up at night is not about what I can see today, but what may emerge tomorrow, since the vaping situation here is constantly evolving.
“There could be new harmful substances, more discreet vape devices, or increasingly sophisticated syndicates that are harder to detect.”
Vaping was banned in Singapore in 2018.
But for years, many vaped in public, with a surge in reports and sightings in 2025 of people acting like zombies and suffering from seizures after abusing Kpods, which are vapes laced with the powerful anaesthetic etomidate.
This led to The Straits Times launching its anti-vaping campaign, Vaping: The Invisible Crisis, on July 13, 2025, to raise awareness of the scourge.
In his National Day Rally speech in August 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Government would be taking much tougher action against vaping and treat it as a drug issue.
The harsher penalties that came into effect on Sept 1 included caning for Kpod suppliers and rehabilitation for abusers.
Enhanced anti-vaping laws also came into effect on May 1, 2026, including allowing for the prosecution of adults who involve young people or vulnerable people in smuggling or supplying Kpods.
Chua said that for every vape seized in Singapore, many more could be imported. And if someone is caught vaping, but relapses after being penalised, HSA’s job will not be considered done.
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