Fast action needed to prevent vaping from becoming drug plague

The Government on July 12 announced that it was considering enhancing current enforcement laws, following a spike in seizures of drug-laced e-vaporisers.

- Melvinderpal Singh and Andrew Wong

A number of recent reports have highlighted the Kpod, or e-vaporiser laced with the anaesthetic drug etomidate, and its hold on young people.

The vaping issue today mirrors what was seen in the early 1980s, when Singapore was grappling with glue-sniffing.

There were reports then of young inhalant abusers dying, often the result of a fall from height. Others were stricken with brain damage from substance abuse.

Over the past few weeks, young people have been caught on video shaking uncontrollably, purportedly from the effects of using drug-laced vapes.

And in April, a 13-year-old girl was seen behaving erratically while vaping in public outside the State Courts. A subsequent raid on her residence found a vaporiser laced with etomidate.

In 1984, the Government took steps that prevented glue-sniffing from becoming a widespread problem. An inter-ministry committee made recommendations covering education and preventive measures, as well as new legislation.

The Intoxicating Substances Act enacted three years later prohibited the misuse of certain substances that can cause intoxication when inhaled.

The Government had prior experience fighting such battles.

In 1977, the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) enacted in 1973 - was used to wage a war on drug trafficking and addiction.

Some 900 drug offenders were arrested within four days of the launch of Operation Ferret. In total, 8,000 suspects were arrested, and the street supply of heroin was cut dramatically in the months that followed.

In Parliament in 1988, then Minister for Home Affairs S.

Jayakumar said it was fortunate that the country tackled the drug problem at the early stage.