Singapore cracks down on drug-laced vaping amid rising use of etomidate

Saturday 30 August 2025 - 11:25

By: Sahili Aya

Singapore cracks down on drug-laced vaping amid rising use of etomidate

Singapore is intensifying its crackdown on vaping after authorities observed a rise in young people using e-cigarettes laced with the anaesthetic agent etomidate. Vaping has been banned in the city-state since 2018, but the emergence of so-called Kpods—short for ketamine pods—has prompted tougher penalties starting September.

Etomidate, normally used as an intravenous anaesthetic in medical settings, has been increasingly found in vape products. Authorities report that one in three randomly tested vapes in July contained the substance. Online sellers have promoted Kpods as being undetectable by urine tests.

From 1 September, etomidate will be reclassified as a Class C drug. Individuals caught using Kpods will face fines of S$500 (US$390) for minors and S$700 (US$545) for adults, alongside mandatory rehabilitation programs lasting up to six months. Repeat offenders could face fines of up to S$2,000 and/or ten years in prison. Importing, selling, or distributing Kpods carries sentences of up to 20 years, as well as caning in some cases.

Vaping in general also carries penalties: adults face S$700 fines, and under-18 users S$500, with stricter measures for repeat offences, including rehabilitation programs or fines of up to S$2,000. Schools have been given saliva test kits to detect nicotine, while suspected Kpod users will undergo urine tests.

Health authorities warn that vaping is a gateway to more serious substance abuse. Approximately one-third of vapers are under 18, and more than half are below 30. Special measures will target travellers at Changi airport, and foreign nationals caught violating these rules risk deportation or revocation of passes.