The debate about e-cigarettes

Surge of “ketamine” vaping worries Singapore

In Singapore, e-cigarettes spiked with the anesthetic etomidate are becoming increasingly common, writes the BBC. They are also called K-pods, which stands for “ketamine pods” because etomidate has a ketamine-like effect.

E-cigarettes are banned in Singapore and when the authorities tested 100 of them seized, a third contained etomidate.

In the wake of this, penalties for both regular vaping and drug vaping are being tightened. The BBC also describes a popular concern, as clips of young people behaving irrationally in public places while smoking e-cigarettes have gone viral.

Singapore tightens penalties for vapers

The authorities in Singapore will introduce harsher penalties for vapers, reports the BBC. This means higher fines, longer prison sentences and even caning. Foreigners may be deported.

E-cigarettes have been banned in Singapore since 2018, but have remained popular. The new penalties are an attempt to tackle a growing trend of drug-laced vaping.