HSA investigating teen allegedly vaping on MRT train
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HSA said on Aug 1 that the 17-year-old filmed walking unsteadily inside an MRT train was found with a vape in his possession and is assisting with investigations.
PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM HSA/INSTAGRAM
Follow topic:
- A teen was filmed stumbling on an MRT train; SMRT staff observed him allegedly vaping and handed him over to authorities.
- The 17-year-old had a vape and is under investigation by HSA. The vape may have contained etomidate, a regulated poison.
- Etomidate will be listed as a Class C drug, and MHA officers will help HSA deal with etomidate offences.
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SINGAPORE – A teenager who was filmed walking unsteadily inside an MRT train on July 31 was observed by station staff to have been allegedly vaping.
A 15-second clip posted on Reddit that day showed the teen, who appeared to be in a daze, stumbling towards the train doors before falling backwards.
In response to a query from The Straits Times, SMRT, which runs the North-South, East-West, Circle and Thomson-East Coast lines and the Bukit Panjang LRT line, said it was aware of the video, which allegedly showed the use of Kpods – or etomidate-laced vapes – by the teen.
“Our station staff were able to locate the male commuter who was observed to be vaping, escorted him out of our train and handed him over to the authorities,” said SMRT Trains president Lam Sheau Kai.
“We have also issued a notice of offence to this individual for flouting the rules,” he added. The notice generally requires the recipient to pay a composition penalty within a stated period.
SMRT did not provide details of the MRT station or line linked to the incident.
On Aug 1, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said the 17-year-old was found with a vape in his possession and is assisting with investigations.
Etomidate is classified as a poison and regulated under the Poisons Act. It has clinical use as an anaesthetic, permitted only in clinical settings and under strict conditions.
Experts told ST that etomidate has been known to cause a type of muscle spasm called myoclonus, which patients may describe as tremors.
Symptoms of etomidate overdose include unsteadiness, sluggishness and mental confusion.
Mr Lam said: “We take such illegal behaviour very seriously and strongly encourage commuters who encounter similar situations to report them.”
On July 30, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam announced that officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be seconded to beef up HSA’s enforcement efforts
MHA is expected to list etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act in the coming weeks as an interim measure, as the Ministry of Health continues to study further legislative action against Kpod offenders.
If etomidate is listed as a Class C drug, users can be subjected to supervision and mandatory participation in a rehabilitation programme or committed to drug rehabilitation centres, similar to what drug abusers undergo.
Those who reoffend or commit other serious offences can also be jailed for at least a year.
To report vaping-related offences, call the HSA hotline on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, including on public holidays.
Reports can also be made online at www.go.gov.sg/reportvape
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