Latest news with #drugissue
Independent Singapore
17 hours ago
- Health
- Independent Singapore
Singaporeans agree with treating vaping as a drug issue, some say enforcement should start at border crossings
SINGAPORE: Many Singaporeans reacted favourably toward Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's announcement during his National Day Rally speech on August 17 to treat vaping as a 'drug issue.' He also said that enforcement efforts would be enhanced. While e-cigarettes are illegal in Singapore, the rising number of young people who use them has been a cause for concern. PM Wong, who noted that people who vape have been fined, said in his speech that this is 'no longer enough' and that 'much stiffer' penalties will soon be meted out. Individuals who sell e-cigarettes containing harmful substances may even receive jail sentences and 'more severe punishments.' Individuals addicted to vaping, meanwhile, will be given supervision and rehabilitation in order to help them stop. At the same time, a public education drive led by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health will be launched in schools and during National Service. In May, 54 e-vaporiser pods and three e-vaporisers were found when the home of a 16-year-old was raided by officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA). The boy, together with another 16-year-old male, was vaping in a private-hire car, and its driver reported them. Alarmingly, some of the pods that HSA seized were found to contain etomidate, an anaesthetic which can cause addiction and physical dependence. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said at the time that Singapore was working towards listing etomidate as an illegal drug. 'Vaping, especially those that are laced with etomidate, is increasing. It is causing quite serious concern amongst agencies, including the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health,' he told reporters. Netizens commenting on PM Wong's announcement of Singapore's tougher stance on vapes said they supported the move, with some suggesting that enforcement can begin at the city-state's border crossings. 'More enforcement at the land border crossing. Saw many Malaysians vaping while riding their motorcycles. Revoke their work permits once caught,' wrote one Facebook user. A commenter noted 'unless our neighbour also bans vaping, … enforcement will be challenging because… travellers will not know the law here.' A Reddit user, meanwhile, wrote, 'Start by checking the Malaysian vehicles at customs. That's where the supplies are.' See also Chan Chun Sing says he will listen to Singaporeans' economic woes Another offered this insight: 'We should maybe consider the UK model instead of doubling down on bans. When SG banned vapes in 2019, it just pushed everything underground and indirectly let KPods/etomidate grow. If we had regulated them, we'd actually have stats on usage and could tweak policies (tax, flavour limits, etc.) based on evidence. Right now, all we know is that 'HSA caught X people.' The rest is invisible.' /TISG Read also: Man claims someone put a vape in his bag while he was traveling to SG from Japan
Bloomberg
a day ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Singapore Targets Vaping With Stiffer Penalties, Jail Time
Singapore will introduce stiffer penalties for vaping offenses, including possible jail time for 'severe' violations, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday. 'So far we've treated vaping like tobacco — at most we impose a fine, but that's no longer enough,' he announced during a national address. 'We will treat this as a drug issue and impose much stiffer penalties.'
CNA
2 days ago
- Health
- CNA
NDR 2025: Vaping to be treated as drug issue with stiffer penalties, including jail
Vaping will now be treated as a drug issue in Singapore, with stiffer penalties - including jail - for those who use or sell vapes with harmful substances. This is part of plans that Prime Minister Lawrence Wong outlined in his National Day Rally speech to protect youths from new dangers. Nikhil Khattar reports.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Singapore Plans Stiffer Penalties, Jail Time for Vaping Offenses
Singapore will introduce stiffer penalties for vaping offenses, including possible jail time for 'severe' violations, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced on Sunday. 'So far we've treated vaping like tobacco — at most we impose a fine, but that's no longer enough,' he announced during a national address. 'We will treat this as a drug issue and impose much stiffer penalties.'
CNA
2 days ago
- Health
- CNA
NDR 2025: Singapore to treat vaping as a ‘drug issue' and step up enforcement
SINGAPORE: Singapore will treat vaping as a 'drug issue' and step up enforcement, toughening its stance on the electronic cigarettes that are illegal but increasingly rampant among youths in the country. 'So far we've treated vaping like tobacco – at most we impose a fine. But that's no longer enough,' said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday (Aug 17). In his National Day Rally speech, held at the Institute of Technical Education College headquarters in Ang Mo Kio, Mr Wong added that authorities will hence impose 'much stiffer' penalties, including jail sentences and more severe punishments for those who sell vapes with harmful substances. A 'major public education drive' will also be mounted, starting in schools, institutes of higher learning and during National Service. The Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health will lead the efforts, said the prime minister, describing it as a 'robust whole-of-government exercise'. Earlier in his speech, Mr Wong noted how young Singaporeans today enjoy more opportunities than before and benefit from many advantages that did not previously exist. But they also face a very different set of challenges that are more complex in some ways, he added. 'Every generation worries about negative influences impacting their young people,' said Mr Wong, citing how comics and rock music were once frowned upon. 'Today no one would consider these things harmful. But there are new risks and some of them are real.' Vaping is one such serious concern, said the prime minister, noting that despite being banned, vapes are still being smuggled in. Many of these vapes are laced with addictive and harmful substances, including etomidate – a fast-acting anaesthetic which can be dangerous when used outside a controlled medical environment.
