Key highlights:
·A 19-year-old teenager in Singapore exhibited unusual behavior, including isolation and self-harm, due to the consumption of Kpods, an e-cigarette containing the potent anesthetic etomidate.
·In the first half of 2025, Singapore detected 28 cases related to Kpods, an increase from 2024.
·The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report stated that Kpods are gaining popularity in the Southeast Asian market, with criminal organizations using social media for marketing.
【2Firsts News Flash】According to a report by Asia One on July 13th, a 19-year-old teenager in Singapore has undergone severe behavioral changes due to an addiction to Kpods, an e-cigarette containing the powerful anesthetic substance etomidate. Since he began using them in November 2024, he has become more withdrawn, engaged in self-harm, and even stumbled around his room. His mother, Susan, noticed that he frequently changed shorts, suspecting that his use of Kpods has led to loss of bladder control. Despite etomidate being controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act in Singapore, with a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment or a $10,000 fine for using or possessing devices containing the substance, the use among teenagers has not decreased.
In the first half of 2025, Singapore has detected 28 cases related to Kpods, a significant increase from the 10 cases in 2024. According to a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Kpods have been showing a growth trend in the Southeast Asian market. Criminal syndicates are using synthetic drugs and drug products, mixing them into e-cigarettes and marketing them through social media platforms to attract young people to purchase them, increasing the risk of addiction.
Since Singapore banned all e-cigarettes in 2018, there has been no decrease in youth usage. By 2024, at least 2000 students have been reported for possessing or using e-cigarettes. Experts point out that misinformation in the market has increased the appeal of these products to young people.
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