'A public health threat': Singapore launches anti-vaping microsite to educate and deter use, Singapore News
The page, titled Stop Vaping, went live the day after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will crack down on vaping and treat it "as a drug issue" during his National Day Rally (NDR) speech on Aug 17.
Referring to vaping as a "public health threat", the microsite consists of information on how it is harmful as well as resources, avenues for reporting and helplines.
It also highlights the government's zero-tolerance stance on vaping, urging users to bin their devices and quit immediately.
New anti-vaping posters assuring the public that there will be no penalties for those who dispose of their vapes can also be seen on the microsite.
These posters have also been spotted around void decks and lift landings.
Vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018 and those found possessing, using or buying vapes can be fined up to $2,000.
The possession, import or sale of Kpods — etomidate-laced vapes — is an offence with a fine of up to $10,000 and jailed for up to two years.
On July 30, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam that the Ministry of Home Affairs will be classifying etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act as an "interim measure" while the Ministry of Health conducts further studies to form legislation regarding etomidate and related substances.
[[nid:720786]]
This allows for "tougher enforcement measures", where abusers will be subjected to mandatory supervision and rehabilitation regimes if convicted, he said, adding that those who import, sell, distribute etomidate-laced vapes can expect much stiffer penalties.
Etomidate is currently classified as a poison that is regulated under the Poisons Act. Ong Ye Kung thanks influencers for speaking up against vaping
On Aug 19, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung expressed gratitude towards influencers and content creators who spoke up about the dangers of vaping, especially Kpods.
"You used stories, facts, your own voice to protect young Singaporeans," he said in a video posted to Facebook.
"This is not a campaign, but a community coming together, ground-up, taking a stand against vaping because we know, we've witnessed, or we've seen first-hand how vaping and etomidate have affected and harmed our young people."
The video featured content from Kao Rong Sheng, who goes by Runner Kao online.
Kao, 42, is a social worker-turned-content creator who has posted more than a dozen videos on vaping in the past four months after being alerted to the matter by students he had spoken with.
In one video, a student who previously used Kpods told Kao that he started using Kpods because he "mixed with the wrong company".
Many of those he used to associate with have since been taken in by authorities for scam and drug-related crimes, he claimed.
The student told Kao that he has since kicked the habit and has remained clean for 17 months, after being convinced to quit by his girlfriend.
Members of the public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
Those looking for help to quit vaping can join the Health Promotion Board's I Quit programme by calling 1800-438-2000.
[[nid:721018]]
bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
17 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Tough stance on vaping: Health experts in Malaysia say country should follow Singapore's footsteps, Malaysia News
Calls are growing in Malaysia for authorities there to take a similarly tough approach as Singapore against vaping. Current regulations in Malaysia does not prohibit the sale or use of e-vaporisers. Instead, the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act only restricts sale, packaging and labelling of tobacco products and smoking devices, including e-vaporisers. Malaysian Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh said that there were almost 20,000 cases of students vaping in schools in 2024. On July 28, Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad told Malaysian Parliament that Putrajaya is considering a nationwide ban on the use and sale of e-cigarettes or vapes. Earlier, Dzulkefly had reportedly told Malaysian media that his ministry's priority was to tighten controls, including mandatory product registration. Malaysian media outlet Malaysiakini reported Dzulkefly as saying that this led to 80 per cent of vapes and e-cigarette products being removed from the market. Singapore gets tough on vaping and laced vapes On Aug 17, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will toughen its stance towards vaping, treating it as a drug issue, with stiffer penalties. Although vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) still seized more than $41 million worth of e-vaporisers and related components between January 2024 and March 2025. Of late, there have been growing concerns on etomidate-laced vapes in Singapore, with youths seen behaving erratically after using such devices. On July 30, Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam announced that the ministry will be classifying etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act as an "interim measure". Etomidate is currently classified as a poison that is regulated under the Poisons Act in Singapore. Apart from jail sentences and more severe punishments for those who sell vapes with harmful substances, Singapore has also been stepping up enforcement. Last Friday (Aug 15), HSA officers joined the police during enforcement checks at public entertainment outlets. During the islandwide operations that lasted till Saturday morning, 115 people aged 17 to 61 were caught for e-vaporiser related offences. HSA officers followed up with a two-day operation between Aug 19 and 20, seizing 82 e-vaporisers, including 62 heatsticks, in anti-vaping operations conducted in Raffles Place and Haji Lane. Eighteen persons between the ages of 24 and 48 were caught for vape-related offences. Experts, activists call for Malaysian lawmakers to take stern action In his World No Tobacco Day speech on July 12, Malaysian Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni acknowledged that while progress has been made to reduce adult smoking rates, vaping has been on the rise in Malaysia. Citing figures from the National Health and Morbidity Survey, Lukanisman said that vape use increased from 4.9 to 5.1 per cent in 2023. "Even more concerning is the growing number of children, or underage persons, taking up electronic smoking products," he said. The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP), which regularly publishes its opinion against vaping, told Malaysian media outlet The Star that the country should look at the issue similar to how Singapore is handling it. "In our country, most vapes contain addictive and dangerous ingredients, including the dangerous etomidate. We should not treat these problems as very light," said the association's education officer N.V. Subbarow. Citing a survey conducted by the CAP in 2022, Subbarow echoed Lukanisman's views that the use of vape and e-cigarettes among students and youth is increasing by the day. He told The Star that it is time for lawmakers to take stern action against the widespread use. Ikram Health Malaysia president Mohd Afiq Mohd Nor also told The Star that Singapore has "a strong and consistent stance on this issue". He suggested that, while waiting for the government to make a decision on banning the substance, the authorities should fully enforce the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act in Malaysia. In May this year, the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) called for a total ban on vaping and e-cigarette products to safeguard public health. "We must put the health of our people, especially our youth, above all else. "Now is the time to act with courage and responsibility, for the sake of current and future generations," MMA said in a statement. Currently, six states namely Johor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, Kedah and Pahang have stopped issuing and renewing licenses for the sale of electronic cigarettes. [[nid:721298]] editor@
Independent Singapore
2 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Commuters caught vaping on public transport will be reported, asked to leave premises
FB screengrab/ SMRT SINGAPORE: As part of the government's more stringent regulations against vaping, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced earlier this week that any individual caught vaping on public transport vehicles will be removed from the premises and reported to authorities. Moreover, 'for those found intoxicated, police may be called in too,' LTA announced in a social media post on Monday (Aug 18), one day after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech that Singapore will begin treating vaping as a 'drug issue.' He also said that enforcement efforts would be enhanced. 'Vaping? Not on our watch. We're stepping up enforcement within our public transport network. Our station staff are on active patrol to keep our public transport spaces safe and smoke-free,' LTA added in its post. While e-cigarettes are illegal in Singapore, the rising number of young people who use them has been a cause for concern, especially since some have been found to contain addictive or harmful substances. Some of the vape pods that officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have seized this year were found to contain etomidate, an anaesthetic which can cause addiction and physical dependence. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in May that the government was working towards listing etomidate as an illegal drug. The authority also reminded the public that individuals found guilty of vape-related offences may face fines of as much as S$2,000. 'Let's keep our commuting experience pleasant for everyone,' the LTA added. E-cigarettes are among the items listed on the website of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) that are not allowed to be brought into the city-state. Even possessing an e-cigarette, whether or not one plans to actually use it, can lead to fines and penalties. Visitors transiting through Singapore are not even allowed to have these devices. Starting from earlier this year, the authorities have stepped up enforcement efforts at airports and other checkpoints. On its part, public transport operator SMRT (Singapore Mass Rapid Transit) also wrote in an Aug 18 post that vaping is strictly banned on the SMRT-operated network. 'SMRT is committed to keeping public transport safe for everyone. We enforce a zero-tolerance policy and will not hesitate to report offenders to the relevant authorities,' it said. People who wish to report vaping incidents may do so at 6684 2036 / 6684 2037 or through this link . 'Together, we can stamp out vaping and protect our shared spaces,' SMRT added. /TISG Read also: 'Vaping is Prohibited' signs to be displayed at nightlife establishments across Singapore () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- AsiaOne
'A public health threat': Singapore launches anti-vaping microsite to educate and deter use, Singapore News
A microsite has been launched to educate and deter the public from vaping. The page, titled Stop Vaping, went live the day after Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced that Singapore will crack down on vaping and treat it "as a drug issue" during his National Day Rally (NDR) speech on Aug 17. Referring to vaping as a "public health threat", the microsite consists of information on how it is harmful as well as resources, avenues for reporting and helplines. It also highlights the government's zero-tolerance stance on vaping, urging users to bin their devices and quit immediately. New anti-vaping posters assuring the public that there will be no penalties for those who dispose of their vapes can also be seen on the microsite. These posters have also been spotted around void decks and lift landings. Vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018 and those found possessing, using or buying vapes can be fined up to $2,000. The possession, import or sale of Kpods — etomidate-laced vapes — is an offence with a fine of up to $10,000 and jailed for up to two years. On July 30, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam that the Ministry of Home Affairs will be classifying etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act as an "interim measure" while the Ministry of Health conducts further studies to form legislation regarding etomidate and related substances. [[nid:720786]] This allows for "tougher enforcement measures", where abusers will be subjected to mandatory supervision and rehabilitation regimes if convicted, he said, adding that those who import, sell, distribute etomidate-laced vapes can expect much stiffer penalties. Etomidate is currently classified as a poison that is regulated under the Poisons Act. Ong Ye Kung thanks influencers for speaking up against vaping On Aug 19, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung expressed gratitude towards influencers and content creators who spoke up about the dangers of vaping, especially Kpods. "You used stories, facts, your own voice to protect young Singaporeans," he said in a video posted to Facebook. "This is not a campaign, but a community coming together, ground-up, taking a stand against vaping because we know, we've witnessed, or we've seen first-hand how vaping and etomidate have affected and harmed our young people." The video featured content from Kao Rong Sheng, who goes by Runner Kao online. Kao, 42, is a social worker-turned-content creator who has posted more than a dozen videos on vaping in the past four months after being alerted to the matter by students he had spoken with. In one video, a student who previously used Kpods told Kao that he started using Kpods because he "mixed with the wrong company". Many of those he used to associate with have since been taken in by authorities for scam and drug-related crimes, he claimed. The student told Kao that he has since kicked the habit and has remained clean for 17 months, after being convinced to quit by his girlfriend. Members of the public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at Those looking for help to quit vaping can join the Health Promotion Board's I Quit programme by calling 1800-438-2000. [[nid:721018]]
