SINGAPORE – More than 1,900 people were nabbed for offences linked to e-vaporisers from September to Nov 2, among whom more than 160 were found with vapes containing etomidate, a harmful drug.
Out of 1,929 people caught for vape-related offences, 167 of them were found to be etomidate abusers, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in a joint statement on Nov 7.
So far, 108 of those caught for abusing etomidate have been placed on rehabilitation programmes at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and social services agencies, the statement added.
Another 33 are awaiting the outcome of further investigations or interviews, and six are waiting to be placed on the programme.
The remaining 20 will not be placed on the programme because six of them are foreigners awaiting repatriation and 14 offenders have been jailed for offences unrelated to e-vaporisers.
Of those placed on rehabilitation, 105 have been compliant with their rehabilitation programme, while three etomidate abusers failed to attend their first rehabilitation appointments.
Thirteen vape re-offenders have been placed on the rehabilitation programme with the Health Promotion Board (HPB).
Among them, 11 have been compliant with their rehabilitation programme while two have failed to attend their first appointments.
Abusers who fail to report for interviews and rehabilitation can be prosecuted.
So far, HSA has prosecuted three people for etomidate-related offences and one person for vape offences, as they had failed to attend or complete their rehabilitation appointments.
Among them is 20-year-old Tan Xin Yi who was
charged on
Nov 6 f
or etomidate-related offences
