What’s really in vapes: More than just flavours (nuhs version 1)
Published on 8 September 2025
Behind the sweet taste, some vapes carry hospital drugs. For teens, that means brain rewiring, mood swings and addiction that sticks.
In 2024, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) logged more than 3,000 vaping-related reports. By mid-2025, the figure had already passed 2,500 in just six months.
The surge is a red flag for teen health.
A medical anaesthetic, misused in vapes
In one case, two 16-year-olds were caught with vape pods laced with etomidate, a powerful hospital sedative never meant for inhalation. These etomidate-laced vapes, known as K-pods, have been tied to seizures, breathing spasms, and sudden collapse.
In hospitals, etomidate is used under strict supervision to sedate patients quickly and safely before surgery. Doctors value it in emergencies because it acts fast while keeping the heart stable.
“Inhaling etomidate via e-vaporisers may lead to respiratory depression, respiratory failure, alterations in consciousness, muscle spasms, and seizures, especially since the dosing is often unknown and unpredictable,” said Dr Clare Anne Fong, Consultant, Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, National University Hospital (NUH) and Alexandra Hospital (AH).
A different story when vaped
When loaded into pods, the drug bypasses every safeguard, entering the lungs and bloodstream in unpredictable doses.
The results can be devastating: sudden unconsciousness, confusion, muscle spasms and long-term brain damage.
“Traditional vaping with nicotine already damages the lungs. But when sedatives like etomidate are added, the risk escalates dramatically. Users can collapse without warning.”
— Dr Clare Anne Fong
When vapes hijack the developing brain
Make no mistake. Vaping can harm the brain and the risk is greater for teenagers.
Adolescence is a crucial stage of brain growth. The limbic system, the part that drives emotions and the urge for rewards, becomes very active in the early teens. However, the prefrontal cortex, which handles judgement, planning and self-control, does not fully develop until the mid-20s.
This gap means teenagers often feel strong urges before their ability to manage impulses is fully developed. That makes it easier for nicotine and sedatives to take hold, leading to faster dependence and a harder time quitting.
“Teen brains are still under construction. Nicotine and sedatives hijack the reward system, making habits stickier and quitting harder.”
- Dr Chee Tji Tjian, Senior Consultant, Department of Psychological Medicine, NUH
Vaping at this stage can also leave lasting scars: poor focus, mood swings and weak impulse control. Studies show nicotine damages the brain’s protective barrier and triggers inflammation, leading to physical changes in how the brain functions.
“Social media has normalised vaping, access is easy, and for some, K-pods become a ‘temporary escape’ from stress. All of this reinforces dependence,” Dr Chee added.
The crackdown on vapes
From 1 September 2025, etomidate has been temporarily reclassified as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Adult users face fines of S$700. Youths face S$500 and up to six months of rehabilitation. Repeat offenders risk up to 10 years in jail. Importers and sellers face 3 to 20 years’ imprisonment and caning.
The crackdown now reached schools, with saliva tests for nicotine, stronger disciplinary measures and new vape disposal bins at Changi Airport. Government agencies including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) have pledged close monitoring of drug-laced vapes.
Bottom line: The facts every teen should hear
| Fact | Why it matters |
| 1 in 3 pods contain etomidate | What seems like a vape could be a sedative delivery system. |
| Etomidate not meant for inhalation | Inhaled, it can impair the brain fast and dangerously. |
| Teen brains get wired for addiction easier | Even minimal exposure can cause long-term harm. |
| You could face fines, rehab, jail and even caning | The law is no longer about warnings, it’s about punishment. |
Think vaping is just harmless fun or a safer option?
Here are some vaping myths that no longer hold up.
In consultation with Dr Chee Tji Tjian, Senior Consultant, Department of Psychological Medicine, NUH; and Dr Clare Anne Fong, Consultant, Division of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, NUH and AH.
