To tackle Kpods and vaping, young people need facts, not fear

Speaker: Elyssa Liu 26 Aug 2025

From 1 September, the government classified etomidate – an anaesthetic found in Kpods – as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Dealers may face jail terms and even caning, while users will be placed under supervision and rehabilitation, with repeat offenders potentially facing imprisonment. History shows that when demand remains, supply finds a way to adapt. Elyssa Liu, Team Leader for Legal Frameworks and Governance at the Duke-NUS Centre for Outbreak Preparedness, notes that unless demand is curbed, new substances will continue to surface and take the place of etomidate in vapes.

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