In October 2024, a 56-year-old Singaporean mother noticed alarming changes in her 27-year-old son’s behaviour, leading her to discover his addiction to drug-laced vapes.
Mother Grows Alarmed After Son Shows Signs of Drug Use
The woman first became suspicious when her son began shaking and walking unsteadily.
“He was shaking and staggering,” the mother told Shin Min Daily News.
Her son had been working at a bubble tea shop but quit at the end of October 2024 without giving notice. He forfeited his salary in the process.
After becoming unemployed, the man spent his days at home smoking e-cigarettes, playing games, and watching television.
She searched his room and found e-cigarette cartridges, which revealed his use of “Kpods” – a type of drug-laced vape.
The mother learned that her son’s cousin had introduced him to Kpods at a nightclub. The cousin intended to give him a “high” because he could not sleep at night.
She admitted that her daily work schedule prevented her from noticing the changes earlier.
Violent Confrontation Leads to Suicide Attempts and Physical Assault
On 18 Nov 2024, the mother confronted her son about his drug use. He lost control of his emotions and threatened to take his own life.
She called the police and he was sent to the Institute of Mental Health. After several hours of evaluation, he was discharged and returned home.
The following day, she raised the issue again. This time, he ran toward the living room window, threatening to jump.
“In order to protect him, I hugged him and pulled him back with all my strength. But he attacked me,” she said.
He choked her and slammed her head against the wall during the struggle.
The son then ran outside, threatening to jump from the corridor. His mother grabbed him from behind in another desperate attempt to stop him.
A neighbour in his 70s heard the commotion and tried to help, but was also threatened by the son. The mother did not want the elderly neighbour to get hurt.
Surveillance footage showed the son trying to climb over the corridor railing while his mother held onto him. He struggled violently, eventually shoving her face with his hands.
After some time, he collapsed from exhaustion.
The Central Narcotics Bureau detained him for several hours. The mother later bailed him out and went to the hospital for emergency care.
Fearing for her safety, the mother could not sleep at night and was constantly anxious. She applied for a Personal Protection Order and petitioned the court to place her son under mandatory treatment starting 30 May 2025 for one year.
Since February 2025, his condition appeared to improve. He no longer displayed tremors or unsteady movements. The mother suspected that he had run out of money to buy the vapes.
On 19 Jun 2025, the son told his mother that a friend wanted to buy a keyboard. He asked for money for his transport fare.
Believing he had quit vaping, she gave him S$10 and asked him to share his location.
By 10pm, he had not returned and claimed he was downstairs smoking with friends. “I told him to come home immediately. When he did, his eyes were dull,” she recalled.
He later left again while she was in the bathroom, saying he was going to buy coffee.
She discovered he had sold the keyboard and had S$100 in his bank account. S$77 was likely spent on vapes.
The mother now hides her wallet every day to prevent him from getting money for drugs. If he needs to buy food or cigarettes, she either buys it or gives him just enough money.
She revealed that her son had borrowed from loan companies and loan sharks. She has repaid S$4,000 on his behalf.
Kpod Addiction Spreads Among Young Singaporeans
A counsellor from the WE CARE rehabilitation centre told Shin Min that two main types of Kpods exist on the market. One contains ketamine, and the other contains etomidate.
Etomidate is more common now, the counsellor noted.
Kpod addiction is spreading rapidly among those aged 13 to 34.
Etomidate is classified as a narcotic under the Poisons Act and must only be used under medical supervision.
Its side effects include nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, respiratory and blood pressure irregularities, seizures, and mental confusion. These conditions are potentially life-threatening in some cases.
Supplying vape cartridges containing etomidate carries a penalty of up to two years in prison, a fine of up to S$10,000, or both.
Under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act, first-time offenders caught possessing, using, or purchasing e-cigarettes can be fined up to S$10,000, jailed up to 12 months, or both.
The mother said her son now eats only one meal a day, speaks incoherently, and responds to questions with irrelevant answers. He cannot even answer the door as he has trouble identifying people.
“As a mother, I am very heartbroken. I am living a life worse than death every day,” she said.
By sharing her story, she hoped to warn other parents to pay more attention to their children and seek help immediately if there are any problems.
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