The Usual Place Podcast

Kpod vapes, zombie kids: Why it’s time to raise the alarm

Natasha Ann Zachariah

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Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week,

with The Straits Times launching an anti-vape campaign on July 13.

Recently, videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online – in particular, of younger people – turning into “zombies” and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes.

Etomidate is an anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, and is classified as a poison under the Poisons Act, which strictly restricts its use to licensed medical professionals.

Some parents have shared their stories about how

their children have tried self-harm or attempted suicide while being high.

Through reports, commentaries and accounts from parents of young Kpod users, ST has sounded the alarm on the dangerous nature of these insidious vapes.

In this episode of The Usual Place podcast, I spoke with my colleague and crime reporter Nadine Chua; Yio Chu Kang SMC MP Yip Hon Weng, who has raised multiple questions in parliament on vaping over the past few years; and executive director of youth mental health charity Impart, Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, who has encountered teens using Kpods.

(From right to left) The Usual Place host Natasha Ann Zachariah speaks with ST crime reporter Nadine Chua, MP Yip Hon Weng, and executive director of youth mental health charity Impart Narasimman Tivasiha Mani about the growing problem of Kpods.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

We discussed the easy access to Kpods, why young people want to use them despite the health risks, and the legislative loopholes that users and sellers are testing.

Highlights (click/tap above):

4:12 How did Kpods become a “normalised phenomenon” and what are its effects?

6:45 What are young people saying about consuming Kpods?

7:55 You don’t need to tell sellers your age, you just need money, notes Mr Narasimman

8:55 Vape sellers market the devices to look trendy or innocuous

10:12 The misconceptions users have about about vaping Kpods

12:10 Why is ST calling it an “invisible crisis”?

14:48 Users are not even hiding their vapes any more – they just smoke in the open

16:19 “If he continues down this path, it’s like he’s gone anyway.”: Ms Chua on how a mother shared about her struggle with her son who is hooked on Kpods

17:12 The roles – and limitations – of different government agencies such as the Central Narcotics Bureau and Health Sciences Authority

20:02 Should we have a 24/7 hotline to report users?

23:38 Readers’ reactions to ST’s recent news stories and features on Kpods

25:51 Many don’t see Kpods as drugs; they think vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes, says Ms Chua

29:54 What could happen in the long run if we fail to act on Kpods today?

34:45 Fines are not a deterrent if parents have to bail out their kids

37:42 How ST will continue covering the Kpods crisis

Read ST’s coverage on the invisible vaping crisis:

https://str.sg/JpFev

Read Nadine Chua’s articles:

https://str.sg/3z8M3

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (