Girl, 13, among 3 probed for offences linked to ‘Kpod' drug-laced vapes: HSA
SINGAPORE – The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided a teenager's home after she was seen behaving erratically while vaping in public outside the State Courts on April 24.
In a statement on May 13, HSA said it had been alerted then to the 13-year-old girl, who was observed to be 'unsteady in gait and appeared to be oblivious of her surroundings; a sign of possible drug intoxication'.
The authority subsequently identified her, and, in the raid on her residence, seized an e-vaporiser that was tested and found to contain etomidate – a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice as an anaesthetic agent.
Vapes that contain vape juice mixed with potent ingredients like etomidate or ketamine are known as Kpods.
HSA later identified and caught the 25-year-old man who sold the e-vaporiser to the girl. One e-vaporiser and three pods seized from him were also found to contain etomidate.
The man, his 26-year-old wife and the teenager are all assisting in an investigation into the case.
Etomidate is a potent ingredient that should be administered only under medical supervision, said HSA.
Adverse effects of etomidate include nausea and vomiting, uncontrollable movements or spasms of muscles, changes to breathing and blood pressure, seizures, psychosis and physical dependence.
In a separate case, HSA identified a 36-year-old man seen vaping on an MRT train in a video posted on social media on April 18.
HSA raided the man's residence but did not find any e-vaporisers, with the man claiming he had thrown his vape away. The authority is investigating the case.
Vaping is illegal in Singapore.
The purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers are prohibited under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, and this includes those bought online or from overseas. Offenders can be fined up to $2,000.
Those found with pods containing etomidate can also be charged under the Poisons Act.
Those convicted can be jailed for up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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