[CONSOLIDATED] Singapore's Vaping Crisis. CNB, HSA monitoring situation

[lightningflash]

 

[coyote]

How would you render assistance?

Call the police to report a vaping incident.

 

[Dracky]

How would you render assistance?

Unhook her bra to help her breathe better.

 

[86technie]

Bring to nearest NPC.

 

[Ahdaii]

call wanbao, then get 50dollar voucher

 

[Full_Cream_Milk]

Continue to monitor.

 

[DiamondJuice]

Take video then put on stomp and mothership

 

[lizzykai]

Take video and TikTok live

 

[snowblaze]

Give him one chance to repent his mistake.
Second chance for police to repent for him.

 

[radioshack]

• More youth are vaping, some as young as 10, to cope with stress and to fit in.
• Vaping occurs in various public spaces, including at malls and near schools.
• Malls and those that manage public places say they are stepping surveillance and monitoring the situation closely.

SINGAPORE – After he failed his O-level exams, which he took as a private candidate, Malcolm (not his real name) used etomidate-laced vapes, or Kpods, to cope with the disappointment.

His friend from school had introduced him to them, and Malcolm, 18, was soon diagnosed with depression and anxiety.

He would vape from the time he woke up until he slept.

Vaping in his friend’s home at first, Malcolm subsequently vaped blatantly in malls, public smoking areas and on the streets.

A few months later, he would black out every day.

He said: “My friend said (Kpods) would help with the depression, but it made it worse.”

His parents contacted an addiction recovery centre, We Care Community Services, for help.

Over two months, he attended daily weekday counselling sessions from 10.30am to 7pm and has been clean of Kpods for three months. Malcolm will start a PSB Academy course in life sciences in September.

He is one of over 30 clients who sought help at We Care to quit vaping in 2025.

Seven social service agencies said that they are seeing more young people vaping, with some noting a spike in the first quarter of 2025.

We Care, along with Allkin Singapore, The Salvation Army, Youth Guidance Outreach Services, the Methodist Welfare Services’ (MWS) Girls’ Residence, Care Corner Singapore, and Care Singapore, reported an increase in youth vapers or inquiries on quitting vaping, which is banned here.

Some started vaping as young as 10 years old.

On Aug 17, during the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said

Vaping is affecting young people in Singapore

He said the authorities will be taking tougher action against those who sell vapes laced with addictive substances like etomidate. Etomidate is meant for use only during medical procedures. When vaped, it enters the lungs directly, potentially triggering spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and even psychosis.

Ms Lena Teo, director of programmes and services at charity Care Singapore, said a primary school contacted her organisation for help in October 2024, and again in April. Care Singapore is working with a group of about 25 upper primary girls from this school with behavioural challenges such as vaping, bullying, defiance and truancy issues.

Mr Alvin Seng, a counsellor at We Care, said referrals were mostly from concerned parents. But We Care has gradually seen individuals in their 20s and 30s coming forward too.

Mr Seng said helpline staff have reported up to three to five Kpod-related inquiries daily in the past month.

He added: “Risk-taking behaviour is not new and is something that has been presenting itself differently throughout generations of adolescents.

“It’s just that regulation and control measures have not caught up with the proliferation among Singapore’s youth, which has now escalated their access to drug-laced vapes.”

Allkin has seen more youth using vapes since 2023, prompting it to start vaping-related programmes in 2024.

Its senior social worker of youth service, Ms Chua Hui Zhen, said around 60 of the 300 young people it served in the last year reported they had vaped before or were currently vaping.

Ms Chua said vaping affects both genders.

“The profiles of these young people vary quite widely, from those who present other at-risk behaviours to youth who are performing well academically,” she said, adding that this makes targeted intervention less effective.

Normalised behaviour​

Social workers said vaping is normalised and perceived as acceptable in peer groups.
Ms Flora Tan, senior social worker at Care Corner Youth Services, said almost all the 300-odd young people in its street outreach programme are vaping.
Around August 2024, Care Corner noticed about a third of them abusing Kpods.
And half of the 20 to 30 residents at MWS Girls’ Residence, which cares for vulnerable young women aged 15 to 21, said they vaped or tried to do so in 2025, up from 35 per cent in 2024.
Ms Audrey Rajalingam, who heads MWS Girls’ Residence, said many view vaping as a safer alternative to smoking.
She added: “They are also drawn to the variety of flavours. Most were introduced to vaping through friends at school or by their boyfriends.”
A survey conducted with youth who have attended Allkin’s vaping-related programmes found that common reasons for continued vaping included coping with stress and boredom.
And over 75 per cent reported having more than five people in their social circles who vape.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...vaping-to-cope-with-stress-say-social-workers

 

[28cMostlyCloudy]

Cigarette:

Bo wa dai ji... Please don't mention me.....

 

[deathan9el]

ask themselves, does vaping makes them feel much better afterwards?
staggering like a drunkard, even worst probably

if end up falling into longkang & break their bones, only then they will feel happy?

 

[enimen]

Addiction say addiction.
Don't use stress as excuse.

Then those other youths who don't use kpods how they deal with stress???

 

[weiess]

simi stress.. all the bloody nonsense reasons..

 

[Dr Stephen Strange]

An ex friend took to cigarettes to help him cope with the loss of his dad during NS. Now heavy smoker. He admits it’s an addiction he can’t kick. Yet cigarettes are allowed.

 

[Shion]

excuses only

 

[ramlee]

Addiction say addiction.
Don't use stress as excuse.

Then those other youths who don't use kpods how they deal with stress???

They sio hoon kee

 

[enimen]

They sio hoon kee

What about those who don't drink, smoke, kpod or any vice?

 

[BBClone]

Why stop there?

Vape even when asleep la, transcend consciousness.

 

[nasfieldjohn]

Kpod druggie agains