From Sep 1, Singapore will enforce harsher penalties against vaping and Kpod abuse, as well as severe punishments for suppliers of etomidate. Etomidate, a substance commonly found in drug-laced vapes known as Kpods, will be officially classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA). This change significantly raises the stakes for both abusers and traffickers.
For abusers, fines for vaping will rise from the current S$300–S$500 to S$500 for first-time offenders under 18 and S$700 for adults. A second offence will require attendance at a three-month rehabilitation programme, while third-time or subsequent offenders face prosecution with fines of up to S$2,000. Kpod users will face similar fines but with added mandatory rehabilitation lasting up to six months. Repeat Kpod offenders will be investigated under the MDA, undergo urine testing, and face six months of mandatory supervision.
Authorities have highlighted that the majority of etomidate abusers are under 30. To address this, tailored rehabilitation programmes have been designed. First-time youth offenders will undergo a three-month programme with up to 10 intervention sessions, while second-time offenders will undergo six months of supervision with up to 16 sessions. For repeat offenders, the penalties escalate quickly, those 16 and above may be admitted into Drug Rehabilitation Centres with mandatory 12-month supervision, while younger offenders will undergo mandatory drug testing and supervision. Officials stressed that this approach distinguishes between vulnerable youth who may be experimenting and hardened drug abusers, offering the younger group a chance to turn their lives around.
On the supply side, the penalties are far tougher. From Sep 1, importing etomidate will attract a mandatory minimum sentence of three years’ jail and five strokes of the cane, with a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and 15 strokes. Selling or distributing the drug carries a minimum of two years’ jail and two strokes of the cane, with a maximum of 10 years and five strokes. Authorities argue that traffickers knowingly profit from the suffering of others, and harsh punishments are needed as deterrence.
The new laws also extend to institutions, workplaces, and the military. Schools will be required to report all vaping incidents to the authorities, with penalties for students ranging from detention, suspension, and counselling to caning for boys and expulsion for repeat offenders. Universities may revoke leadership roles, scholarships, or hostel accommodations. Public servants caught vaping or distributing vapes may face disciplinary measures such as fines, demotions, or even dismissal. Members of the Home Team and SAF will face strict action under internal regulations, including possible detention or discharge.
Foreigners are not spared under the new rules. Short-term visitors caught with vapes may be fined, banned from re-entering, or deported. Long-term pass holders face revocation of their passes and deportation after repeat offences. Those caught using Kpods or testing positive for etomidate risk deportation and future entry bans.
The government has also made provisions for voluntary help-seeking. Offenders who come forward under the QuitVape programme will not be penalised, and parents who refer their children for help will not see their children punished. Officials emphasised that the framework seeks to balance tough enforcement against traffickers with rehabilitation opportunities for abusers, especially youths, to prevent them from descending further into addiction.
This sweeping change reflects Singapore’s zero-tolerance stance towards drugs and vaping, strengthening its enforcement capabilities across society while placing clear emphasis on saving youths from the dangers of addiction.
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