SINGAPORE – The Government will take much tougher action against vaping and treat it as a drug issue with stiffer penalties to be imposed, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
In his National Day Rally speech on Aug 17, PM Wong said every generation worries about negative influences impacting their young people.
He said new risks will emerge, and vaping is a serious concern.
Addressing
the vaping scourge
for the first time, PM Wong said vaping is banned here, but people are still smuggling vapes in and finding ways to get around the law.
He added: “Many of these vapes are laced with addictive and harmful substances like etomidate. So, the vapes themselves are just the delivery devices. The real danger is what is inside.
“Right now, it is etomidate. In future, it could be something worse – stronger or far more dangerous drugs.”
PM Wong said much tougher action will be taken against vaping.
Vaping has been banned in Singapore since 2018, and under current laws, possessing, using or buying vapes carries a maximum fine of $2,000.
But PM Wong said imposing a fine is no longer enough.
“We will treat this as a drug issue, and impose much stiffer penalties. That means jail sentences and more severe punishments for those who sell vapes with harmful substances,” he said.
PM Wong said supervision and rehabilitation will be given to those addicted to vapes to help them quit.
“We will step up nationwide enforcement. And we will mount a major public education drive – starting in schools and the institutes of higher learning, and also during national service,” he said.
While the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will lead the efforts, this will be a robust whole-of-government exercise, said PM Wong.
“The agencies have already started, and the ministries concerned will share more details soon,” he added.
PM Wong’s comments on vaping follow The Straits Times’ launch of its anti-vaping campaign on July 13, called
Vaping: The Invisible Crisis
Speaking to ST after the Rally, Mr Vikram Nair, chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Home Affairs and Law, agreed that Singapore should take a strong stand against vapes. He had told ST in July that he was in favour of etomidate being classified as a drug.
The Sembawang GRC MP said the reclassification of etomidate will give the Government good means to deal with the issue.
On PM Wong’s comments on a major public education drive in schools and the institutes of higher learning, Mr Nair said: “I think it is clear that vaping has picked up in and around tertiary institutes, and the youth is an important segment as they are more easily impressionable. So, I think that is a group we have to target.”
He added: “I remembered the anti-glue-sniffing campaign when I was in school, so I guess this is this generation’s glue-sniffing.”
Mr Nair said a meeting will be held with the GPC members next week, before Parliament sits in September, with the vaping issue being high up on the agenda for discussion.
In the past month, the Government has escalated its anti-vaping measures.
On July 20, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the authorities were
working to list etomidate under the Misuse of Drugs Act
.
MHA is expected to do so soon as an interim measure while MOH continues to study further legislative action.
This paves the way for
abusers and traffickers of vapes laced with etomidate, or Kpods
, to be treated in the same way as those who abuse or traffic drugs, with mandatory rehabilitation and jail time for repeat offenders.
Currently, etomidate is listed under the Poisons Act. Under this law, abusers face only a fine.
Etomidate is meant for use only during medical procedures.
When vaped, it enters the lungs directly, potentially triggering spasms, breathing difficulties, seizures and even psychosis.
ANN/straitstimes
