NUS to take enhanced measures against vaping from Sept 1

SINGAPORE - The National University of Singapore will be adopting a zero-tolerance approach to vaping from Sept 1 with enhanced enforcement and beefed-up surveillance.

To ensure that NUS stays vape-free, campus emergency and security officers will be increasing patrols and checks around the campus, the university said in an e-mail on Aug 31 to students.

Those who spot illegal vaping, or the sale and possession of e-vaporisers, can make a report to these officers via a 24-hour hotline or to the university’s whistle-blowing channels, said Associate Professor Stella Tan, associate provost for student conduct at the NUS Office of Student Conduct.

Students caught vaping will be reported to the authorities, said Prof Tan in the e-mail seen by The Straits Times.

Student offenders will also face stricter disciplinary measures from Sept 1, she said, noting that this is on top of penalties imposed by the Health Sciences Authority or the Central Narcotics Bureau.

For example, first-time offenders face eviction from their hostels, and may also be deemed ineligible for on-campus housing, student leadership roles and overseas programmes.

Repeat offenders will face severe disciplinary sanctions such as candidature suspension, said Prof Tan.

Those who use vapes laced with drugs such as the anaesthetic etomidate face suspension in addition to the withdrawal of privileges such as on-campus housing, and repeat offenders face having their candidature terminated, she added.

This comes as Singapore

takes a tougher stance on vaping

amid concerns over a growing number of cases involving such etomidate-laced e-vaporisers, also known as Kpods.

From Sept 1,

etomidate will be listed as a Class C drug

under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong

said in his National Day Rally speech

on Aug 17 that vaping, banned here since 2018, will be treated as a drug issue, with the imposition of stiffer penalties.

The moves by NUS are in line with measures announced by Education Minister Desmond Lee, who on Aug 29 announced

stricter disciplinary measures

for students caught vaping at schools and institutes of higher learning here.

Between 2022 and 2024, about 800 students at institutes of higher learning – comprising the Institute of Technical Education, five polytechnics and six autonomous universities – were caught for vaping offences annually.

The Straits Times reported on Aug 31 that

vaping at clubs and bars has persisted

despite heightened enforcement action by the authorities.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Aug 28 that more than 80 per cent of etomidate abusers and over half of those caught vaping are

under the age of 30

.

From Sept 1, those under 18 caught consuming and possessing Kpods will be fined $500, up from $300 previously. Adult offenders will be fined $700, up from $500.

Offenders will also have to attend a rehabilitation programme for up to six months, while repeat offenders can be arrested and made to undergo mandatory supervision for six months, which includes drug testing and rehabilitation.