Families For Life | Facts About Vaping

Fact 4: Vaping devices are not easy to recognise.

Vaping devices come in various shapes and sizes.
Some look like traditional tobacco products like cigarette while others resemble everyday items like USB flash drives and pens.

Due to its harmful effects, persons who vape etomidate may walk unsteadily, appear to be in a daze and unaware of their surroundings.

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Fact 2: Vapes contain toxic chemicals.

The reality is that vapes contain not only nicotine, but also cancer-causing chemicals that have short-term and long-term effects.
Vaping can lead to severe health effects including diseased heart, addicted brain and popcorn lungs, even short-term hits may cause dizziness or chest pain.
As of 18 Feb 2020, vaping has been linked to 68 deaths and over 2,807 cases of lung injury related to vaping in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US has called this outbreak EVALI, or E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury.
In 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared vaping is harmful to health and not safer alternatives to regular cigarettes.

Watch this 1-min video to understand the harms of vaping from Dr Devanand Anantham, SingHealth and SingHealth Duke-NUS Lung Centre.

Learn more about the short-term and long-term effects of vaping here.

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Fact 5: 12% of vapes seized in Singapore had etomidate.

Kpods are vape pods that contain dangerous drugs like synthetic weed (called Spice or K2) or very strong cannabis oil.
They look exactly like typical vape pods used in devices so you can't tell them apart just by looking.
Unlike vaping liquids (which are already illegal in Singapore), Kpods contain harmful drugs such as etomidate making them much more dangerous.
Etomidate is a prescription-only anaesthetic that should only be administered under medical supervision. When used, etomidate can cause nausea, vomiting, uncontrollable movement, muscle spasm, seizures and breathing difficulties.
12% of vapes seized in Singapore had etomidate, which has been classified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) from 1 September 2025 onwards.
Higher penalties will apply once etomidate is listed under MDA.

Using or possessing etomidate laced e-vaporisers

	Before 1 Sept 2025	After 1 Sept 2025
1st time offenders	NOC of $300 (for those below 18 years old) and $500 (for adults) Offenders may be prosecuted under the Poisons Act and liable to a maximum penalty of imprisonment for up to 2 years and/or fine up to $10,000	Increased NOC of $500 (for those below 18 years old) and $700 (for adults) Attend rehabilitation for up to 6 months
2nd time offenders		Mandatory supervision for 6 months, including drug tests and rehabilitation Face prosecution if mandatory supervision is not completed
Subsequent offenders		(Below 16 years) Mandatory supervision inclusing drug testing for 12 months (16 years and above) Admitted to Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) for treatment and rehabilitation, and mandatory supervision, including drug testing for 12 months

From 1 Sept 2025 onwards, individuals caught for selling and distributing of etomidate e-vaporisers will face a minimum imprisonment of 2 years and 2 strokes of the cane. Those caught for importing etomidate e-vaporisers will face a minimum of 3 years’ imprisonment and 5 strokes of the cane.

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Fact 3: Vaping is addictive.

Vapes contain a highly addictive chemical, nicotine.
When inhaled, nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and within seconds, activates certain chemical reactions in the brain, giving the user a pleasurable "high" and making them crave more.
Vaping can be habit-forming when used as a coping mechanism during times of stress or when it becomes a part of a regular ritual where it is associated with a particular activity.

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5 Facts About Vaping

Fact 1: Vaping is illegal in Singapore.

Since 1 February 2018, the purchase, possession and use of e-vaporisers and other emerging/imitation tobacco products became prohibited in addition to existing bans on importation, sale and distribution.
From 1 September 2025, there will be stronger penalties and enforcement to tackle vaping.

Using or possessing e-vaporisers

	Before 1 Sept 2025	After 1 Sept 2025
1st time offenders	• Notice of Composition (NOC) of $300 (for offenders under 18 years old) and $500 (for adults)	Increased NOC of $500 (for those below 18 years old) and $700 (for adults)
2nd time offenders		Attend Rehabilitation for 3 months
3rd or more time offenders		Prosecution and subject to a maximum fine of $2,000

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