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

[fake_oranges]

Soon, officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA) will be patrolling the streets, wary eyes out for litterers, smokers taking a puff in prohibited areas and a new offender: users of illicit electronic vaporisers.

It is part of a new cross-agency initiative between the NEA and Health Sciences Authority (HSA) announced in March, as Singapore steps up enforcement against e-vaporisers – more commonly known as vape.

This collaboration will allow NEA officers to take action against vapers if they catch a whiff of the activity. This is welcome news.

The pilot programme is coming at a timely moment, just slightly a month after HSA announced that almost 5,000 people were caught for vaping in 2022 – almost four times the number in 2020. Hopefully, more enforcement on the streets will push the numbers down.

So far, the current penalties have not stemmed the influx of vapes into the country.

Sellers and importers may incur fines up to $10,000 and be sentenced up to six months' jail – chump change compared to importing contraband cigarettes where fines can amount in the millions.
It is clear that the low-risk, high-reward environment of vapes poses an attractive proposition for distributors and consumers alike. That is why it is encouraging to see the vape issue being increasingly flagged in Parliament.

In February, two Members of Parliament filed Parliamentary Questions asking the Minister for Health whether there was a need to toughen punishment for both importers and users. The Government has now answered through action.

It is a good start to stop the vape trend, for its flow into Singapore is just the tip of a bigger problem. Illicit vapes may be the front-end symptom of a wider network that can possibly be tapped by crime syndicates for other illegal businesses.

Before this tricky issue becomes harder to contain, Singapore is taking pre-emptive measures. This will help it avoid becoming a hot spot for the smuggling of more dangerous goods like narcotics and even firearms.

SMALL DEVICE, OUTSIZED IMPACT​

One reason why demand remains high is due to people’s misperception of vaping’s small impact on society, including the health impact on users.

Vapes are also less taxing on one’s wallet – a point made even more pertinent after the recent 15 per cent tax hike on tobacco.
With a pack of cigarettes now going for more than S$15, there is a fear that more smokers will become vapers. For a similar price, one gets a box of three vape refill pods, each able to last from three days to a month.

But the illegal vape trade is more than just the exchange of sweet-smelling juices.

The business is connected to organised crime that sees a gateway to more insidious activities – once criminals identify a channel with lax enforcement, vapes could be a primer to deal in other illicit items. For instance, there are already vape juices laced with cannabis, which are outlawed here.

Products are also easily procured across the border in Malaysia and once they are home-free in Singapore, island-wide distribution poses little issue.

Given Singapore’s reputation as a global trading hub, it could also become a distribution point for these products within the region and beyond.

Now that Singapore has ramped up its fight against vapes, the combination of heightened enforcement and penalties will help greatly in not only punishing offenders, but also serving as a warning to others. This could provide a platform to take even more action.

TAKING A HOLISTIC APPROACH​

Cutting the supply off from its source would deal a major blow to perpetrators trying to gain a foothold in Singapore. It stops the flow of money, which is an easy way for bad actors to obtain funding for other unlawful businesses.

This would require even more co-operation among agencies such as the government, border controls and even e-commerce companies that allow such products to be sold on their platforms.

With technology, they will be able to pinpoint the source and shut down imports before they lead to further harm.

Cross border collaborations in particular will be invaluable, especially when online retailers in Malaysia have been knowingly supplying vapes to smugglers targeting Singaporeans. It has already been proven effective in stopping other crimes such as scams.

As local laws against vaping are still being queried and debated on, constantly arming law enforcement agencies with up-to-date knowledge to carry out prosecution is also crucial.

A country that has put its foot down on illicit trade is the Philippines.
Its House recently passed a bill that classifies the smuggling of tobacco products an act of economic sabotage – a non-bailable offence. If and when passed by the Senate, cigarette smugglers will face between 30 to 40 years of imprisonment.

Singapore, likewise, is doing something similar with illicit drugs, by increasing punishments and expanding its jurisdiction on a wider variety of abusive substances. The same can apply to vapes.

With crime syndicates increasingly able to slip past defences and engage in illicit trading of vapes, we must eliminate this growing problem before it snowballs into something larger.

Illegal trades that go on unabated represent lost revenue for a country. From an economic standpoint, that money could be used to develop infrastructure or improve social services to benefit Singaporeans.

Make it hard for syndicates to thrive, and we can ensure a safer Singapore for all. As things stand, we are off to a good start in 2023.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Shane Britten is CEO of Crime Stoppers International, an independent non-profit organisation that educates communities worldwide about transnational crimes and provides a vital link between members of the public and law enforcement agencies.

https://www.todayonline.com/comment...-dangerous-connection-organised-crime-2150856

 

[fake_oranges]

after read liao, i think it is as dangerous as drugs

 

[Kunkka]

inb4 no hangs means its ok

 

[PaulLevesque]

Jin satki man

 

[Gixxerfied]

Next one will be link to black market illegal arms trade...

 

[mutare ad melius]

This article will become moot once the pappy govt finds a way to tax vapes like cigarettes.
If and when this happens there will be multiple articles all over the various MSM stating that vaping is better than smoking cigarettes.

 

[yusoffb01]

just like how casino is illegal because bad for society...

 

[dambio]

Can't profit from it then demonise it. Wats new

 

[MrAwesomeX]

after read liao, i think it is as dangerous as drugs

They are especially the unregulated ones . The ingredients can be anything from meth to weed to overdosed nicotine to keep users addicted for life .

Matter of time before gahmen force to legalize it since they raise cig tax so high lol ppl turning to cheaper alternatives .

 

[saltydog]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/...starter-kits-bid-make-Britain-smoke-free.html

meanwhile, in the uk…

 

[Scarlet Tea]

FTs see liao their feet laughing

 

[fake_oranges]

• While there are no official statistics on how many people in Singapore currently vape, indications are that the number has gone up over the past few years, particularly among youths
• Even though vaping is illegal, youths told TODAY they vape for a variety of reasons, including ease of access, lower cost compared to cigarettes and the impression that "everyone" does it
• While some youths believe vaping to be healthier than smoking, experts said that the science on this is still inconclusive and vaping is certainly harmful
• Youths interviewed said that even if enforcement is tightened, they will still continue vaping in some capacity, highlighting the mammoth task the authorities have in stamping out the habit
• While the youths would prefer that the government legalise and regulate vaping, experts and Members of Parliament say that it will be an irreversible process that could lead to a slippery slope

SINGAPORE: When Henry first started using electronic vapourisers, or vapes, back in 2020, it was because it “seemed easier to hide” and “tasted better” than normal cigarettes.

While the 28-year-old was already a smoker, the COVID-19 measures imposed then meant that he had to stay at home most of the time, in close proximity with his family.

In those few months, his vaping device — which along with all vaping related-products are banned in Singapore — came in handy.

“I definitely vaped more during the circuit breaker, because my family doesn’t know I smoke, so it’s a bit strange to just go out randomly for a smoke break,” said Henry, who works in publishing.

“I could just vape in my room, and no one will know.”

Henry is far from being the only user of vape here, with the illegal practice attracting more and more young people here.

TODAY spoke to 11 “vapers” between the ages of 20 and 28, all of whom, including Henry, were given pseudonyms, as they are aware that what they are doing is against the law.

The handheld battery powered device, which looks like a highlighter pen or pod, works by inserting a pod of vaping liquid into it, which comes in a variety of different flavours.

From the liquid, the vape then creates an aerosol that looks like water vapour, but contains nicotine, flavouring, and other chemicals. Users then inhale the aerosol, and the nicotine and chemicals pass into the bloodstream.

They exhale the remnant vapours, which has the appearance of mist, and while this vapour is sweet smelling, the scent does not linger on clothes.

Vaping became popular around the world in the early 2010s. While there are no official statistics to show how many people in Singapore currently vape, indications are that the practice has been growing in popularity over the past few years, particularly among youths.

Last year, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) caught 4,916 people for vaping, an almost fourfold increase compared with 1,266 people in 2020.

The increasing prevalence of vaping is not only confined to those above 21, the legal smoking age, but has also seen children and teenagers pick it up as well.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said last year that the number of students caught for smoking and vaping offences was at about seven for every 1,000 students over the past three years.
The number might well be larger, as there are students who have never been caught vaping.
This was the case for Sarah, who began vaping in 2020 during her first year of junior college, when she was 17. She had already been smoking at that time, but found it hard to get her hands on cigarettes as she was underage, and noticed that the smoke left a smell on her clothes that was easy for her teachers or parents to detect.
With vaping, she did not have these issues, as there was virtually no smell left behind by the vapour, and the small device was easy to conceal.
“I think vaping is way more accessible, when you’re purchasing them, the sellers don’t really ask for IC,” she added.
Now that she is 20 and in university, Sarah still finds herself vaping “all the time”, whenever she has free time alone, or in private social settings.



Then there is Joseph, 23, who has vaped for about seven years, and in 2020 decided to sell vape products as well.

The university student said that he had observed that vaping was getting more popular in Singapore, with more of his peers doing it and more online channels popping up, such as on Telegram where vape products were being sold.

Thus, he began to buy products in bulk from a local supplier, and would sell them for a profit to friends or friends of friends through word of mouth.

Joseph stopped selling the products about a month ago, but not because he was afraid of getting caught. The logistics of arranging the sales became too much of a hassle, he said.

However, his “side hustle” had earned him an average of about S$500 to S$600 (US$375 to US$450) a month over the past three years.

“In the black market, vape selling is one of the most profitable businesses around,” Joseph said.

The likes of Henry, Sarah and Joseph show that despite the government’s ban on vaping products in 2018, the vaping “scene” is very much alive and thriving.

In turn, the government has taken or is considering firmer action against offenders.

Earlier this month, over 85,000 e-vapourisers and components were seized in the authorities' largest haul to date.

 

[fake_oranges]

While the Singapore authorities are sticking to their zero-tolerance stance towards vaping, this is not the case around the world.

For instance, Britain announced this week that up to 1 million smokers will be encouraged to swap cigarettes for vapes in a bid to encourage them to quit smoking.

Agreeing with this approach, vapers whom TODAY spoke to say that legalising vaping while regulating it is a move worth considering, as it could encourage more responsible vaping through setting a minimum age, as well as allowing only certain "healthier” vape products to be sold.

However, addictions experts said that the notion that vaping is a “healthier” alternative to smoking is not sufficiently backed up by scientific evidence, since the phenomenon is relatively new.

There have also been concerns raised that the channels used to distribute of vapes may be part of a wider network that can possibly be tapped by organised crime syndicates for other illegal businesses, as highlighted in this commentary in TODAY.

Members of Parliament (MPs) whom TODAY reached out to also cautioned that if the authorities do not clamp down on vaping now, the act may become “entrenched” in society and affect even more people.

“Legalising vaping is something I would not advocate as it can lead to greater take up rate of vaping usage,” said MP Saktiandi Supaat (PAP-Bishan-Toa Payoh).

“It is cheaper than tobacco, has higher risk of having higher nicotine amounts, health risks of various chemicals and compounds and (is an) easy access for youths to be addicted and be introduced to other substances going forward,” he added.

IS VAPING HEALTHIER THAN SMOKING?​

With the long-term health effects of vaping still not fully understood, the vapers whom TODAY spoke to all agreed that vaping in general could be detrimental to their health, but were split about whether vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes.

Richard, who works in advertising, claimed that vaping is “very much healthier than smoking”.

“When I smoke cigarettes, I feel a severe reduction in my sports performance, whereas when I vape, I hardly feel any effects,” said the 28-year-old.

Agreeing, another 28-year-old vaper who vapes “every one to two hours” said he feels vaping is “lighter on the lungs” compared to smoking cigarettes.

However, some other vapers said that they either are not aware if vaping is healthier than smoking, or acknowledged that the ease of access to vaping means that they are more exposed to it compared to smoking.

“I don’t believe it is a healthier outlet,” said Henry. “My mindset is that I’m not a heavy vaper, so it can’t be that unhealthy.”

Sarah, the vaper since 17, said that she likely takes in more harmful chemicals now due to the frequency in which she vapes, which is “all the time”.

“To me, if you don’t think about it, then it doesn’t matter,” she said. “I just won’t think about whatever is inside (the vapour).”

According to addiction experts and smoking cessation counsellors, the health benefits that vaping has over smoking is unknown at best.

A study by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in 2021 found that vaping aerosols contain thousands of unknown chemicals and substances not disclosed by manufacturers, including industrial chemicals and caffeine.

However, Britain’s National Health Service website details how vaping, though not completely harmless, is a viable strategy to help people quit smoking.

It claims that “nicotine itself is not very harmful” and has been used safely for many years in medicine to help people stop smoking. It said that e-cigarettes "do not produce tar or carbon monoxide, two of the most harmful elements in tobacco smoke".

Local experts cautioned that the science is not conclusive.

Smoking cessation specialist Sean Ang said that vaping is “definitely not healthy”, and that while vaping, harmful chemicals are introduced into the vaper’s body, nicotine being one of them.

“These chemicals can increase a person’s risk of getting respiratory and cardiovascular conditions (and) there are even reports of seizures happening.”

Mr Ang added that since there is no regulation on vaping products, it is not known what the contents of the vaping pods are.

“The risks probably differ for different vaping products, but we don’t know for sure,” said Mr Ang, founder of Success Alliance Enrichment, which provides professional healthcare programmes in mental health, peer support and smoking cessation.

Agreeing, Dr Lambert Low, a consultant at the National Addictions Management Service at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said that vapes contain nicotine which may be in a higher concentration than the one found in cigarettes.

“Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical and has been shown to be detrimental to the developing brain of adolescents," he said.

The chemical predisposes them to cognitive impairments such as “problems with attention and memory as well as behavioural and emotional problems later on such as depression and anxiety disorders”, Dr Low added.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sin...garettes-legalise-vape-regulate-smoke-3419681

 

[Irenicus91]

Vape jiu vape, mybfd

 

[FireEmblem]

Classify it under highest lvl of illegal drug (it is a drug after all).

5 years jail for repeat offender.

First offense 2 years jail

 

[curahee]

should also ban cigarettes right base on their logic impose on vape


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[vvsian]

A youngster told me that at home she vapes, outside she smokes. The person who introduced her was her much older sister. This girl was 16 when she started and looks completely nerdy and is very studies conscious. Then another youngster (15 years old) says many of his friends vape and they get contacts from TG

 

[bwaysaikryptonite]

introduce benefits for reporting others sure gotch many sinkies can pwn….go Shenton way cbd area back lane etc just spot check teh crowd easily can hit quota….

 

[jadedRomeo]

Slippery slopes towards what exactly?
Can give objective reason(s)?
And pls back it up with proof (that's not funded by Phillip Morris lol)

Just legalize and tax it la.

 

[LostandFound87]

impose hefty tax can alrdy la so ez.