Singapore Imposes Stricter Penalties on Vape Users, Etomidate Suppliers From September

Starting September 1, Singapore will impose stricter penalties on vape users and suppliers of etomidate-laced vapes, including higher fines, mandatory rehabilitation programs, and harsher punishments such as caning and long prison terms for traffickers. Etomidate, previously classified as a poison, will be temporarily designated as a Class C drug for six months while new, stricter legislation is developed for early 2026. Foreigners caught vaping face fines, seizure of devices, and possible deportation or bans from re-entry, with repeat offenders subject to harsher consequences. The government’s move reflects concerns over the rise of drug-laced vapes, with recent tests revealing that one in three confiscated vapes contained etomidate, a substance linked to serious health risks and unnatural deaths. Singapore’s approach marks a shift in treating vape use as a drug issue rather than just a smoking violation, emphasizing the city-state’s ongoing tough stance on drugs, including caning and the death penalty for trafficking. This crackdown aims to curb what authorities describe as a growing public health threat from synthetic smoke and drug-laced vaping products.