The Singaporean government is set to significantly toughen its stance on vaping, with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announcing that it will now be treated as a drug issue, warranting much stiffer penalties including potential jail time for sellers. This move comes amid a dramatic spike in seized illegal vapes and a growing concern over e-vaporizer pods being laced with harmful substances like the anesthetic agent etomidate.
"So far we’ve treated vaping like tobacco — at most we impose a fine. But that’s no longer enough," PM Wong stated during his National Day Rally speech. "We will treat this as a drug issue, and impose much stiffer penalties."
Despite a ban on vaping since 2018, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) seized over S$41 million worth of e-vaporizers and components between January 2024 and March 2025, a massive increase from S$95,460 in 2019. A growing concern is the rise of the "Kpod" variant, with HSA detecting 28 cases of etomidate-laced pods in the first half of 2025 alone, nearly three times the total for all of 2024. One-third of randomly tested seized vapes were found to contain the substance.
The government plans to list etomidate as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This will subject users to supervision and mandatory rehabilitation, similar to other drug abusers, with repeat offenders facing at least a year in jail. Sellers could face up to 20 years' imprisonment and caning. PM Wong also announced a major public education drive on vaping risks, starting in schools and during national service. This intensified enforcement and public health campaign aims to combat the growing threat posed by the illicit vape market.
