Latest news with #MohdFadhliRazali
The Star
2 days ago
- Health
- The Star
Number of vape poisoning among youth up
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 76 poisoning cases linked to exposure to vapes suspected of containing prohibited substances were referred to the National Poison Centre (PRN) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the Poison Information Service from 2020 to last year. PRN senior pharmacist Mohd Fadhli Razali said the statistics show a sharp increase, with a significant spike starting in 2022, when 65% or 17 cases were recorded out of the total vape exposure cases referred that year. 'These cases have risen annually, with 79% (27 cases) in 2023 and 68% (26 cases) in 2024. 'The majority, 81%, of vapes involved claimed to be magic mushroom vapes. 'Most cases involved teenagers aged 15 to 19 years (41%) and early adults aged 20 years (53%), indicating a growing trend among the younger generation,' he said in a statement yesterday, reported Bernama. He said these findings highlight the urgent need for the government to take immediate action to prevent more young people from falling victim to addiction, particularly to new types of drugs like synthetic cannabinoids (lab-made substances that are chemically similar to chemicals found in the cannabis plant) detected in vape liquids. Mohd Fadhli said most affected individuals experience symptoms such as seizures, fainting and vomiting, as well as issues like hallucinations, delusions, and behavioural changes, including aggression. More alarmingly, many cases show severe poisoning symptoms even after just one or two puffs, posing risks to themselves and those around them, Mohd Fadhli added. He said PRN's analysis of several vape liquid samples, claimed to contain magic mushrooms, revealed they actually contained synthetic drugs capable of causing severe, potentially fatal poisoning. 'This shows how easily vapes can be manipulated. Strict controls are necessary to prevent the abuse of dangerous drugs in society. Teenagers are the primary targets for these products due to easy access through online platforms, which are difficult to regulate,' he said. He stressed that the rising number of vape-related poisoning cases underscores the need for immediate enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and support at the state level.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Vape poisoning among youths on worrying rise
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 76 poisoning cases linked to exposure to vapes suspected of containing prohibited substances were referred to the National Poison Centre (PRN) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the Poison Information Service from 2020 to last year. PRN Senior Pharmacist Officer Mohd Fadhli Razali said the statistics show a sharp increase, with a significant spike starting in 2022 when 65 per cent, or 17 cases, were recorded out of the total vape exposure cases referred that year. 'These cases have risen annually, with 79 per cent (27 cases) in 2023 and 68 per cent (26 cases) in 2024. The majority, 81 per cent, involved vapes claimed to be Magic Mushroom Vape. 'Most cases involved teenagers aged 15 to 19 years (41 per cent) and early adults aged 20 years (53 per cent), indicating a growing trend among the younger generation,' he said in a statement today. He said these findings highlight the urgent need for the government to take immediate action to prevent more young people from falling victim to addiction, particularly to new types of drugs like synthetic cannabinoids (lab-made substances that are chemically similar to chemicals found in the cannabis plant) detected in vape liquids. Mohd Fadhli said most affected individuals experience symptoms such as seizures, fainting, vomiting, and psychiatric issues like hallucinations, delusions and behavioural changes, including aggression. More alarmingly, many cases show severe poisoning symptoms even after just one or two puffs, posing risks to themselves and those around them, he added. He said PRN's analysis of several vape liquid samples, claimed to contain Magic Mushroom, revealed they actually contained synthetic drugs capable of causing severe, potentially fatal poisoning. 'This shows how easily vapes can be manipulated. Without strict controls, it opens the door to the abuse of dangerous drugs in society. Teenagers are the primary targets for these products due to easy access through online platforms, which are difficult to regulate,' he said. He stressed that the rising number of vape-related poisoning cases underscores the need for immediate enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and support at the state level.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Health
- The Sun
Vape poisoning among youths on worrying rise, warns National Poison Centre
GEORGE TOWN: A total of 76 poisoning cases linked to exposure to vapes suspected of containing prohibited substances were referred to the National Poison Centre (PRN) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) through the Poison Information Service from 2020 to last year. PRN Senior Pharmacist Officer Mohd Fadhli Razali said the statistics show a sharp increase, with a significant spike starting in 2022 when 65 per cent, or 17 cases, were recorded out of the total vape exposure cases referred that year. 'These cases have risen annually, with 79 per cent (27 cases) in 2023 and 68 per cent (26 cases) in 2024. The majority, 81 per cent, involved vapes claimed to be Magic Mushroom Vape. 'Most cases involved teenagers aged 15 to 19 years (41 per cent) and early adults aged 20 years (53 per cent), indicating a growing trend among the younger generation,' he said in a statement today. He said these findings highlight the urgent need for the government to take immediate action to prevent more young people from falling victim to addiction, particularly to new types of drugs like synthetic cannabinoids (lab-made substances that are chemically similar to chemicals found in the cannabis plant) detected in vape liquids. Mohd Fadhli said most affected individuals experience symptoms such as seizures, fainting, vomiting, and psychiatric issues like hallucinations, delusions and behavioural changes, including aggression. More alarmingly, many cases show severe poisoning symptoms even after just one or two puffs, posing risks to themselves and those around them, he added. He said PRN's analysis of several vape liquid samples, claimed to contain Magic Mushroom, revealed they actually contained synthetic drugs capable of causing severe, potentially fatal poisoning. 'This shows how easily vapes can be manipulated. Without strict controls, it opens the door to the abuse of dangerous drugs in society. Teenagers are the primary targets for these products due to easy access through online platforms, which are difficult to regulate,' he said. He stressed that the rising number of vape-related poisoning cases underscores the need for immediate enforcement of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) and support at the state level.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Health
- New Straits Times
Spike in vape poisoning cases in Malaysia sparks concern over illicit substances
GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia is facing a new public health threat as a sharp rise in vape-related poisoning cases, believed to be linked to illicit substances, has been reported by the National Poison Centre (NPC) at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) here. According to NPC, there has been a surge in poisoning cases linked to vape products suspected of containing dangerous synthetic drugs, particularly since 2022. USM NPC pharmacy officer (drug and poison information service) Mohd Fadhli Razali said it recorded 76 such cases between 2020 and 2024, with a significant increase in the past three years. "In 2022 alone, 17 cases were reported — a 65 per cent jump from the previous year. "The numbers rose to 27 cases (a 79 per cent increase) in 2023 and 26 cases (68 per cent) so far in 2024. "Disturbingly, 81 per cent of these cases involved products marketed as 'Magic Mushroom Vape', with teenagers aged 15 to 19 accounting for 41 per cent of the cases and young adults around 20 years old making up 53 per cent," he said today. Fadhli said patients exposed to these vape products often experienced severe symptoms such as seizures, fainting, vomiting, hallucinations, delusions, and even aggressive behaviour, sometimes after only one or two puffs. He said the severity of these reactions had raised concerns about the presence of synthetic cannabinoids and other toxic substances. "Subsequent testing by NPC confirmed that some vape liquids labelled as containing 'magic mushrooms' were actually laced with powerful synthetic drugs capable of causing life-threatening reactions. "These findings underscore the ease with which vape products can be tampered with and misused, especially through unregulated online sales targeting youth," he said. Fadhli called for stronger enforcement of the Poisons Act 1952 and voiced support for state-level bans on vape sales and use. He said several states had either enacted or were planning such bans, a move NPC believes is essential to protect young Malaysians from the growing threat of drug abuse disguised in vaping products. "This is no longer an isolated issue. "It has become a public health crisis. "We urge all state governments to unite in implementing a comprehensive ban on vape sales to stop the spread of these dangerous substances," he said. Fadhli said that immediate, coordinated action was needed to address the alarming trend and safeguard the future of Malaysia's youth. It was recently reported that illicit vape liquids containing synthetic drugs, including a psychoactive substance known as 'Magic Mushroom', were being sold for as little as RM1 per drop and are fast gaining popularity among school students, TV3's Buletin Utama reported. A 17-year-old teenager, who identified himself only as Zul, revealed that he became addicted to the substance at age 14, a year after he began vaping at 13. Selangor police chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan had also warned that vape liquids were easily manipulated with illicit substances and pose serious health risks. He said there were 24 cases of vape-related drug incidents recorded in Selangor last year, while 17 cases had been reported this year up to last month.
