Etomidate temporarily listed under Misuse of Drugs Act due to urgent situation in S’pore: Faishal

SINGAPORE – The Government decided to temporarily list etomidate under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) as the situation involving it was deemed urgent.

The move is not permanent, as more research on the harm and addictiveness of the substance needs to be done, due to the heavy penalties imposed under the MDA.

But listing it under the MDA was needed to strengthen current legislation to deal with vapes, including those that contained harmful substances like etomidate, Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Faishal Ibrahim said in Parliament on Sept 26.

Singapore is in the midst of battling a scourge involving vapes laced with etomidate, also known as Kpods.

The situation was considered so dire that the Government on Aug 28

announced tougher penalties

to deal with those who abuse and traffic etomidate.

In Parliament, Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang GRC) asked why etomidate was classified as a Class C drug for only six months, from Sept 1, 2025, to Feb 28, 2026. It had previously been classified under the Poisons Act.

Associate Professor Faishal said MHA takes the decision to list a substance under the MDA very seriously, because of the heavy penalties imposed under the Act.

He added that every candidate substance is carefully evaluated, and there must be robust scientific evidence of significant harm and addictiveness before the authorities list it.

He added: “We also take reference from the drugs listed under the United Nations drug conventions. Given that the abuse of etomidate is a relatively recent development, there is insufficient evidence of its long-term addictiveness, for now.”

Prof Faishal said etomidate has not been proscribed as a controlled drug under the UN drug conventions.

But because the etomidate situation here was deemed urgent, the Government decided to temporarily list it under the MDA.

This would also allow the Government to deal with etomidate abusers, sellers and suppliers with enhanced legislative powers, while the Ministry of Health reviews its proposal to enact a permanent legislative change by Feb 28, 2026.

Mr Vikram then asked what some of the known adverse effects of etomidate were.

Prof Faishal replied that there were some serious psychiatric and physical effects associated with the abuse of the substance, including links to suicidal behaviour, breathing difficulties and hormone imbalances.

Among the enhanced measures announced on Aug 28, Kpod importers can be jailed for up to 20 years and given up to 15 strokes of the cane.

Those selling or distributing the products can be jailed for up to 10 years and given up to five strokes of the cane.

Enhanced punishments

will also be meted out to those who abuse etomidate.

First-time Kpod abusers will be fined $700 if they are above 18. Those under 18 will be handed a $500 fine. These offenders must attend rehabilitation for up to six months.

Repeat abusers will be given mandatory supervision for six months.

Those above 16 caught for the third time or more will undergo a 12-month regime, which includes treatment at a drug rehabilitation centre followed by drug testing and supervision.

More than 10,000 officers

have been granted powers to act against vape-related offences.

On Sept 22, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament that more than 10,000 vaping cases had been detected by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) in the first eight months of 2025.

To report vaping-related offences, call the HSA hotline on 6684-2036 or 6684-2037 from 9am to 9pm daily, including public holidays. Reports can also be made online at

www.go.gov.sg/reportvape

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stnewsdesk@sph.com.sg