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Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
‘I'd have phone in one hand, vape in the other': Youth addicted to vapes gets help to quit habit
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox More than 10 young people so far in 2025 have contacted non-profit organisation Impart to quit vaping. SINGAPORE - For five years since he was 17 years old, the three things Adam (not his real name) could not leave home without were his phone, wallet and vape. Introduced to vaping by his friends as an alternative to smoking, Adam said: 'I would vape almost daily. Sometimes it was because I was bored, and other times because I felt stressed. 'It became such a habit that if I didn't have one hand on my phone and the other hand holding my vape, I would feel strange.' In January, Adam, now 22, contacted Impart, a non-profit organisation that helps young people with their struggles, including addiction to vaping. Constantly coughing after vaping made the Institute of Technical Education student wonder what might happen if he continued vaping. He said: 'I wanted to quit, but did not know how to. I no longer bring my vape out. But it is not easy to completely stop overnight.' While vaping is illegal here, the Ministry of Health and the Health Sciences Authority said in July that those who voluntarily seek support for quitting will not face any penalties for doing so . Adam is one of more than 10 young people so far in 2025 who have contacted Impart for help to quit vaping. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Trump says arrangements being made for Putin, Zelensky to meet over Russia-Ukraine peace deal Singapore 'I vaped when I woke up until I slept': More youth vaping to cope with stress, say social workers Singapore 'We don't want youth to enter darker places': Counsellors say support key to kicking vaping habit World Hamas accepts proposed deal for ceasefire with Israel and hostage release, Egyptian source says Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Its co-founder and executive director, Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, said most of these young people, aged 14 to 24, had sought help since July 13, when ST launched its anti-vaping campaign called Vaping: The Invisible Crisis . Mr Narasimman said: 'In the past month, there's been a lot more data and many more news articles on vaping. This awareness is very powerful because it's shaping how young people think about vaping.' In 2023 and 2024, fewer than five young people contacted Impart annually to get help for their vaping addiction, he added. Mr Narasimman said: 'It's starting to sink in that vaping is bad for their health. Many thought vaping was a way to make them feel better about their problems, but it actually made them feel worse.' For those who sought help at Impart, Mr Narasimman suggested to them that they keep occupied with hobbies like sports, and set realistic guidelines on how they can wean themselves off vaping. He said: 'It's a process that takes time. But when these young people voluntarily seek help to stop vaping, half the battle is won, because it is they who want to change.' That was the case for Johnny (not his real name). The engineering student, 21, who works part-time as a food deliveryman, used Kpods in February after acquaintances urged him to try it. Kpods contain the powerful anaesthetic drug etomidate, which is intended for use to induce sedation during medical procedures and not meant to be inhaled. When vaped, etomidate enters the lungs directly, potentially triggering spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and even psychosis. Said Johnny: 'In April, I started vaping every day when I got stressed. I saw it as a form of escapism, but it didn't help me escape anything. I kept telling myself I would not let this habit go on for long, but it was tough to stop.' His parents discovered his addiction due to his slurred speech. He said: 'I threw my vape away and got help. At first, I was nervous about coming clean, that I would be reported and arrested. 'But that never happened. I admitted I needed help, and that makes me believe that those who struggle like I did can stop, too.'
New Paper
10-08-2025
- Health
- New Paper
Profile of Kpod user shifts to young people: Experts
In just a few months, experts say the profile of a typical Kpod user has shifted from adults with a history of drug use, to young people abusing substances for the first time. Senior consultant psychiatrist Munidasa Winslow, who was previously chief of the addiction medicine department at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said many of the Kpod-related patients he saw at the end of 2024 were already using other drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. "They (Kpod addicts) developed problems because they found it difficult to stop, and usually got high multiple times," said Dr Winslow, who now works in private practice and runs Promises Healthcare. "Because they've had a previous addiction, they tend to chase highs, which means they use higher doses. These are the people who develop hallucinations and dissociations." Kpods are e-vaporisers laced with drugs, such as the anaesthetic etomidate. In the first half of 2025, Dr Winslow noticed that most of the patients were young people between the ages of 15 and 40, with no prior history of drug addiction. He has seen 24 cases of Kpod addiction to date who were referred to his clinic. "About 90 per cent of the youth who are taking Kpods are actually mild abusers," said Dr Winslow. "They are abusing (Kpods) just to get high or to experience something different, and are not really physically addicted." While there may be an absence of a physical addiction, Kpod use can lead to serious mental and physical issues. Professor Tan Huay Cheem, chairman of the Singapore Heart Foundation, said on the organisation's website: "Mentally, they (Kpods) can cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, memory problems and psychosis. In the long term, they have been linked to depression, suicidal thoughts and increased risk of schizophrenia." Singapore had its first indication that young people here were using Kpods in April, after a 13-year-old girl was found behaving erratically outside the State Courts while puffing on an e-cigarette. In the first half of 2025, the Health Sciences Authority detected 28 cases involving Kpods, up from 10 cases recorded in 2024. Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, co-founder of youth mental health charity Impart, said it handled only one Kpod user in 2024, who was also a methamphetamine addict. Since the start of 2025, the charity said it has seen about 10 Kpod-related cases, with young people aged between 14 and 24. None of them had a history of drug use. According to Mr Narasimman, Impart, which conducts counselling for at-risk youth, said the calls it received for help were from parents and referrals from schools. There is no clear explanation for the shift, but experts noted that sellers have been flooding the market by tapping social media platforms. Dr Winslow said: "The sellers of vapes want to drum up as much business as possible. The more they sell, the more people they get." Ms Nasirah Nasir, head of the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association's (Sana) Step-Up Centres, said it has received about two Kpod-related calls a week since the start of 2025. "The calls are mostly from next of kin who are seeking help for the (Kpod) users. "Another trend we've noticed is parents calling to ask how they can help their children kick the habit," said Ms Nasirah, who added that the youngest user Sana has seen is about 13 years old. She said there has been a slight uptick since Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on July 20 that the Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs to list etomidate as an illegal drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which carries a heavier penalty for abusers and traffickers. It follows the discovery that a third of more than 100 vapes seized during enforcement operations and tested at random were found to contain etomidate. Since January, Ms Nasirah said Sana's caseworkers have followed up on six calls, which involve providing counselling to Kpod users, or helping them seek professional care at IMH's National Addictions Management Service (Nams). End craving Dr Melvyn Zhang, senior consultant at Nams, said conventional treatment methods for addiction can be used for Kpod addiction. He added: "Counselling is useful to help the individual develop coping mechanisms, deal with the triggers and cravings to use Kpods and address any underlying factors that predispose them to such. "Psychiatric medication may be required if the individual also develops or suffers from co-morbid psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety." Dr Winslow said Kpod users may not develop physical dependency. "You don't have withdrawals like with heroin, with the shaking and stomach pains. There's no physical dependency, but there might be a psychological dependency for vulnerable people," he said, adding that the majority of his Kpod-related patients can be well within a week of treatment. The more complicated cases involve those who also use drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin, as they require him to help them detox from different substances. Impart's Mr Narasimman said that with Kpod users, counsellors learn the underlying reason for their usage and try to introduce lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms. "If they are influenced by peers, we teach them how to be assertive and say no to their friends," he said, adding that Impart has different counselling programmes catered to young people according to the severity of their Kpod use. "For those who are merely experimenting, it's usually because of curiosity. So we'll lay out the pros and cons for them, and come up with a safety plan for them to prevent further usage," he added. Mr Narasimman said young people who are addicted to Kpods are usually referred to Nams to get professional help. Nams also offers a family support group and counsellor service for caregivers to provide them with support, from stress management to strategies to cope with the effects of addiction and beyond. Mr Narasimman said Impart is looking into creating a support group for parents whose children are abusing Kpods. Nams' Dr Zhang said it is important for parents to create a safe space for children to share openly about their struggles. "Take time to understand the underlying factors driving their behaviour - whether it's academic pressure, social influences or emotional difficulties," he said. Some ways parents can support their children with vaping addictions are by validating their feelings while being clear about the risks of vaping, and guiding them towards professional help and counselling services when needed. Dr Winslow, the psychiatrist, said the worst thing for parents to do is to handle the matter themselves or ignore their child's Kpod use. "You will need to spend a lot more time with your kids, even if it means you take time off from work," said Dr Winslow. "Tell them that there are consequences if you do this (abuse Kpods)." What works better is to enrol their children for treatment or rehabilitation sessions. For starters, parents can put in constraints such as cutting free time to go out with friends on weekends, or even disallowing them to join family holidays. "Once there's a constraint or something where people check on you or help you learn more about self-awareness, emotions and all that, the whole use issue will go down," he said. Mr Narasimman said parents should avoid shaming their children, or resorting to drastic measures like kicking them out of the house or cutting their pocket money. He said: "This will push the young person to the edge, and they will be forced to react. I had a youth who resorted to selling vapes to fund his own addiction because his parents cut off his pocket money." Members of the public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch by calling 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at Under current laws, possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Anyone who distributes, imports or sells vapes and their components can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000. Those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000. If you need help to quit vaping, you can join the Health Promotion Board's I Quit programme by calling the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000. If you have a story to share about vapes, e-mail us at stnewsdesk@
Straits Times
09-08-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
Profile of Kpod user has shifted from hardcore drug users to young people: Experts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Medical professionals have noticed that most of the patients were now young people between the ages of 15 and 40, with no prior history of drug addiction. SINGAPORE - In just a few months, experts say the profile of a typical Kpod user has shifted from adults with a history of drug use, to young people abusing substances for the first time. Senior consultant psychiatrist Munidasa Winslow, who was previously chief of the addiction medicine department at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), said many of the Kpod-related patients he saw at the end of 2024 were already using other drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. 'They (Kpod addicts) developed problems because they found it difficult to stop, and usually got high multiple times,' said Dr Winslow, who now works in private practice and runs Promises Healthcare. 'Because they've had a previous addiction, they tend to chase highs, which means they use higher doses. These are the people who develop hallucinations and dissociations.' Kpods are e-vaporisers laced with drugs, such as the anaesthetic etomidate. In the first half of 2025, Dr Winslow noticed that most of the patients were young people between the ages of 15 and 40, with no prior history of drug addiction. He has seen 24 cases of Kpod addiction to date who were referred to his clinic. 'About 90 per cent of the youth who are taking Kpods are actually mild abusers,' said Dr Winslow. 'They are abusing (Kpods) just to get high or to experience something different, and are not really physically addicted.' While there may be an absence of a physical addiction, Kpod use can lead to serious mental and physical issues. Professor Tan Huay Cheem, chairman of the Singapore Heart Foundation, said on the organisation's website: 'Mentally, they (Kpods) can cause anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, memory problems and psychosis. In the long term, they have been linked to depression, suicidal thoughts and increased risk of schizophrenia.' Singapore had its first indication that young people here were using Kpods in April, after a 13-year-old girl was found behaving erratically outside the State Courts while puffing on an e-cigarette. In the first half of 2025, the Health Sciences Authority detected 28 cases involving Kpods, up from 10 cases recorded in 2024. Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, co-founder of youth mental health charity Impart, said it handled only one Kpod user in 2024, who was also a methamphetamine addict. Since the start of 2025, the charity said it has seen about 10 Kpod-related cases, with young people aged between 14 and 24. None of them had a history of drug use. According to Mr Narasimman, Impart, which conducts counselling for at-risk youth, said the calls it received for help were from parents and referrals from schools. There is no clear explanation for the shift, but experts noted that sellers have been flooding the market by tapping social media platforms. Dr Winslow said: 'The sellers of vapes want to drum up as much business as possible. The more they sell, the more people they get.' Ms Nasirah Nasir, head of the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association's (Sana) Step-Up Centres, said it has received about two Kpod-related calls a week since the start of 2025. 'The calls are mostly from next of kin who are seeking help for the (Kpod) users. 'Another trend we've noticed is parents calling to ask how they can help their children kick the habit,' said Ms Nasirah, who added that the youngest user Sana has seen is about 13 years old. She said there has been a slight uptick since Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on July 20 that the Ministry of Health is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs to list etomidate as an illegal drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act , which carries a heavier penalty for abusers and traffickers. It follows the discovery that a third of more than 100 vapes seized during enforcement operations and tested at random were found to contain etomidate. Since January, Ms Nasirah said Sana's caseworkers have followed up on six calls, which involve providing counselling to Kpod users, or helping them seek professional care at IMH's National Addictions Management Service (Nams). End craving Dr Melvyn Zhang, senior consultant at Nams, said conventional treatment methods for addiction can be used for Kpod addiction. He added: 'Counselling is useful to help the individual develop coping mechanisms, deal with the triggers and cravings to use Kpods and address any underlying factors that predispose them to such. 'Psychiatric medication may be required if the individual also develops or suffers from co-morbid psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety.' Dr Winslow said Kpod users may not develop physical dependency. 'You don't have withdrawals like with heroin, with the shaking and stomach pains. There's no physical dependency, but there might be a psychological dependency for vulnerable people,' he said, adding that the majority of his Kpod-related patients can be well within a week of treatment. The more complicated cases involve those who also use drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin, as they require him to help them detox from different substances. Impart's Mr Narasimman said that with Kpod users, counsellors learn the underlying reason for their usage and try to introduce lifestyle changes and coping mechanisms. 'If they are influenced by peers, we teach them how to be assertive and say no to their friends,' he said, adding that Impart has different counselling programmes catered to young people according to the severity of their Kpod use. 'For those who are merely experimenting, it's usually because of curiosity. So we'll lay out the pros and cons for them, and come up with a safety plan for them to prevent further usage,' he added. Mr Narasimman said young people who are addicted to Kpods are usually referred to Nams to get professional help. Nams also offers a family support group and counsellor service for caregivers to provide them with support, from stress management to strategies to cope with the effects of addiction and beyond. Mr Narasimman said Impart is looking into creating a support group for parents whose children are abusing Kpods. Nams' Dr Zhang said it is important for parents to create a safe space for children to share openly about their struggles. 'Take time to understand the underlying factors driving their behaviour – whether it's academic pressure, social influences or emotional difficulties,' he said. Some ways parents can support their children with vaping addictions are by validating their feelings while being clear about the risks of vaping, and guiding them towards professional help and counselling services when needed. Dr Winslow, the psychiatrist, said the worst thing for parents to do is to handle the matter themselves or ignore their child's Kpod use. 'You will need to spend a lot more time with your kids, even if it means you take time off from work,' said Dr Winslow. 'Tell them that there are consequences if you do this (abuse Kpods).' What works better is to enrol their children for treatment or rehabilitation sessions. For starters, parents can put in constraints such as cutting free time to go out with friends on weekends, or even disallowing them to join family holidays. 'Once there's a constraint or something where people check on you or help you learn more about self-awareness, emotions and all that, the whole use issue will go down,' he said. Mr Narasimman said parents should avoid shaming their children, or resorting to drastic measures like kicking them out of the house or cutting their pocket money. He said: 'This will push the young person to the edge, and they will be forced to react. I had a youth who resorted to selling vapes to fund his own addiction because his parents cut off his pocket money.' Members of the public can report vaping offences to the Tobacco Regulation Branch by calling 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, or online at Under current laws, possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000. Anyone who distributes, imports or sells vapes and their components can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000. Those found in possession of or using pods containing etomidate can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000. If you need help to quit vaping, you can join the Health Promotion Board's I Quit programme by calling the QuitLine on 1800-438-2000.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it's time to raise the alarm
Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week, with The Straits Times launching an anti-vape campaign on July 13. Recently, videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online – in particular, of younger people – turning into 'zombies' and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes. Etomidate is an anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, and is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act, which strictly restricts its use to licensed medical professionals. Some parents have shared their stories about how their children have tried self-harm or attempted suicide while being high. Through reports, commentaries and first-person accounts, ST, along with parents, readers and health professionals, have sounded the alarm on the dangerous nature of Kpods. In this episode of The Usual Place Podcast, I chat with my colleague and seasoned crime reporter Zaihan Mohamed Yusof; Yio Chu Kang SMC MP Yip Hon Weng, who has raised multiple Parliamentary Questions on vaping over the past few years; and Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, the executive director of youth mental health charity Impart, who has encountered teens using Kpods. We will discuss the access to Kpods, what attracts young people to use them, and how Singapore can step up enforcement and awareness. Tune in at 12pm SGT/HKT to watch the livestream and take part in the discussion on our revamped YouTube channel. Follow The Usual Place Podcast live at noon every Thursday and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: YouTube: Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
New Paper
25-06-2025
- New Paper
Young people in Singapore carrying weapons as 'fashion accessory': Counsellor
Young people may be carrying weapons in public as a "fashion accessory", and brandishing them during heated arguments, a counsellor who works with at-risk youth flagged. Mr Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, co-founder of the charity Impart, said he has seen an increasing number of young people carrying weapons as accessories in the last 10 years. "Some of these weapons look quite nice, so (young people) buy them and carry them around to show off," he said. Mr Narasimman, who said some of the weapons can be found on sale on platforms like Carousell, Telegram and Facebook, added that they would be used when these young people get into confrontations with others. His comments come in the wake of a spate of incidents over the last year that saw young people linked to violent crimes. In March, a 16-year-old was convicted of rioting with a deadly weapon after he brandished a flick knife at another teen during a group attack, which involved five others aged 13 to 17. The teen, who has yet to be sentenced, had asked the victim if he wanted to "try the knife". In September 2024, a 22-year-old man was charged with murder after a brawl in Kitchener Road. Three other men and two women were charged with rioting with a deadly weapon over the same incident. In June 2024, a 19-year-old was charged with voluntarily causing hurt with a dangerous weapon. He had allegedly slashed a 20-year-old man with a chopper during a fight in Sembawang. Mr Amalraj Thevar Manivannan, 27, is a friend of Mr Dhinessh Vasie, who died in the Kitchener Road brawl. "He was so young and there was so much ahead for him," said Mr Amalraj of the 25-year-old victim. A father of a three-month-old girl, Mr Amalraj said he is concerned that young people may be carrying weapons in public. "My worry is when my daughter starts going to school. Will there be enough advocacy against violence and use of such weapons, or will things be worse?" he said. Official figures from 2019 to 2023 show that the number of offenders aged 10 to below 21 involved in offences under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act had climbed from 92 to 133. Offences under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act involved mainly youth who were seen with offensive weapons such as knives. The Straits Times checked and found weapons like karambit knives sold on online platforms like Carousell and Shopee, many with intricate designs and videos demonstrating how they could be used. The karambit knife is a scheduled weapon. Possession of a scheduled weapon - which includes flick knives, gravity knives and knuckle dusters - without lawful authority can result in a jail term of up to five years, with a minimum of six strokes of the cane for a first conviction. Mr Narasimman said the use of weapons in the gaming world can play a part in influencing a young person to carry a weapon in real life. "It becomes a thing for them to have a weapon, because in the game, a weapon increases the chance of them winning the fight. It conditions them to think that violence is an option," he added. MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Darryl David had raised the issue in Parliament in September 2024 after a spate of rioting cases involving young people aged below 21 and deadly weapons. Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam said in a written reply that there was an average of 10 cases of rioting with deadly weapons every year between 2019 and 2023. Slightly more than half involved offenders below 21 years of age. Speaking with ST, Mr David said young people may be influenced by violent content they are watching on social media. "When they have all this unfiltered content coming through without proper guidance, it could lead to acts of violence in real life. "(The acts of violence) might also be due to the lack of adequate social and familial structures, and inability to manage anger, frustration and unhappiness," he said. Mr Narasimman said young people lack emotional regulation because their brains are not fully developed. "Their executive functioning skills (at that age) might be poor, so they tend to act based on their emotions. Impulsivity is a huge trait among young people who use weapons. "They don't know what to do when they feel threatened, and their need to fight back is strong, so they resort to using weapons," he said, adding that childhood trauma and negative influences from friends might also contribute to their violent tendencies. Mr David said educators and counsellors can help young people navigate the plethora of information available to them. "As an educator, I believe that we've never had a generation exposed to so much information, with so little maturity. "It's a very dangerous combination," said Mr David, who was formerly deputy director of Temasek Polytechnic's School of Design. He said more can be done to show young people that there are other avenues to share their fears and anxieties. "With youth, we need to help them learn how to deal with fear and anxiety, and prevent these emotions from manifesting in acts of violence. We can teach them to manage their feelings, and find healthy channels for release," he said. When counselling at-risk youth, Mr Narasimman focuses on understanding their backgrounds and teaching them how to regulate their emotions. These include equipping them with coping skills such as breathing exercises or clenching their fists to help them calm down in moments of anger. As incidents of violence most commonly involve males, part of Mr Narasimman's work involves reshaping these young people's narratives of what it means to be a man. He added: "Many of them have been told not to cry, because boys must be harder and stronger. "But when these youth are not in touch with their emotions, they bottle it up, and it may eventually burst."
