‘No let-up on war on vaping’, says HSA chief executive; youngest abuser was 10 years old

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SINGAPORE – The youngest vape abuser caught in Singapore so far is just 10 years old, said Health Sciences Authority (HSA) chief executive Raymond Chua.

Beyond the worrying trend of younger users, vapes here have also been found laced with illicit substances such as ketamine, cannabis and benzhexol, he added.

Benzhexol is used medically to reduce tremors and muscle stiffness in those who suffer from movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Speaking to The Straits Times on July 29 for the first time since harsher penalties on vaping kicked in on Sept 1, 2025, Chua said: “What keeps me up at night is not about what I can see today, but what may emerge tomorrow, since the vaping situation here is constantly evolving.

“There could be new harmful substances, more discreet vape devices, or increasingly sophisticated syndicates that are harder to detect.”

Vaping was banned in Singapore in 2018.

But for years, many vaped in public, with a surge in reports and sightings in 2025 of people acting like zombies and suffering from seizures after abusing Kpods, which are vapes laced with the powerful anaesthetic etomidate.

This led to The Straits Times launching its anti-vaping campaign, Vaping: The Invisible Crisis, on July 13, 2025, to raise awareness of the scourge.

In his National Day Rally speech in August 2025, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said the Government would be taking much tougher action against vaping and treat it as a drug issue.

The harsher penalties that came into effect on Sept 1 included caning for Kpod suppliers and rehabilitation for abusers.

Enhanced anti-vaping laws also came into effect on May 1, 2026, including allowing for the prosecution of adults who involve young people or vulnerable people in smuggling or supplying Kpods.

Chua said that for every vape seized in Singapore, many more could be imported. And if someone is caught vaping, but relapses after being penalised, HSA’s job will not be considered done.

He added: “This is why there can be no let-up on this war on vaping. Just like scams and drugs, vaping and its supply networks will continue to evolve. Even if one day we significantly bring down the number of vape users and suppliers, we won’t declare victory, because we must always stay vigilant.”

He noted the need to rehabilitate vape abusers, rather than just penalise them, adding: “Because rehabilitation gives them the chance to break the cycle once and for all.”

Between Sept 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, more than 8,300 people were caught possessing and using vapes.

Around 8 per cent of vape abusers caught were aged 16 and below.

Turning point

Chua said that while HSA had always taken an aggressive stance against vaping, the turning point came with the rise of etomidate-laced vapes in 2025.

This led to HSA ramping up its efforts significantly because of the increased risk to public health.

Said Chua: “Etomidate is worrying because those who abuse it can become disinhibited and even lose a bit of consciousness.

“Those vaping while driving may even get into car accidents if they are in a state of confusion or delirium.

“And because it’s so addictive, they tend to crave more.”

More than 13,000 officers from around 50 agencies including the Central Narcotics Bureau and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority have been given powers to take action against vape users.

“This shows it’s not just HSA tackling this issue; the whole of Government is too,” said Chua.

With the vape reporting hotline extended since March to take calls from 7am to midnight daily, Chua also urged the public to report vaping cases.

He said more than 4,900 cases were reported via the hotline and online form from September 2025 to June 2026.

One such public report led to HSA raiding two warehouses in Bishan and Ubi that saw more than 60,000 vapes and its components seized in July 2025.

A Malaysian man working as a packer at the warehouses was arrested and sentenced to 41 weeks’ jail for possessing vapes and components for sale.

Citing this case, Chua said: “It is important the public knows it can also play a part in this whole fight. We need eyes and ears on the ground.”

Despite more awareness being raised about the dangers of vaping, Chua said HSA will not let up.

“HSA officers, whether they’re out on enforcement or in the labs, must continue to be able to pick up signals on the ground and look out for new trends.

“Because we won’t know how vaping, or the chemicals inside vapes, will evolve,” said Chua.

“The moment we lift our foot off the pedal, we may see more cases. So we have to continue this tempo.”