SINGAPORE: Schools across Singapore, from primary to junior colleges, have been issued nicotine test kits amid a sharp rise in vaping among students.
The number of students caught vaping has jumped to an average of 3,100 a year between 2022 and 2024, according to new figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE). In the institutes of higher learning, about 800 students were caught a year during the same period.
In contrast, fewer than 50 cases from schools and institutes of higher learning were referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before 2020.
The nicotine test kits have been issued to around 260 schools since March, following requests from schools, MOE said on Thursday (Aug 28).
All vaping incidents in educational institutions will be reported to the authorities. From Sep 1, students may face school-based penalties such as detention, suspension, caning (for boys), conduct grade adjustments and rehabilitative counselling.
In institutes of higher learning, disciplinary action could include the withdrawal of leadership opportunities, overseas exchange or scholarships, eviction from hostels for university students and fines or community service.
Repeat offenders and traffickers may be suspended or expelled.
(From left) Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash at a press conference on tackling vaping on Aug 28, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)
Designated staff members will be trained and authorised to take enforcement action against students found abusing or distributing vapes, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release.
Metal detectors have been deployed at selected campuses to screen for vape devices, and schools have introduced a “peer vigilance culture”, encouraging students to report classmates who vape.
Institutes of higher learning will step up campus patrols, especially at known hotspots.
Education Minister Desmond Lee said at a press conference on Thursday that peer support plays a vital role.
"We know that young people listen to their peers, and so positive peer support is important as well. We encourage students to look for peers who are struggling with vaping and urge them to seek help from trusted adults like our teachers," he said.
This act should not be seen as "getting anyone in trouble", said Mr Lee, but instead "making sure that their friends get the much-needed help they need".
Beyond schools, enforcement will intensify across public areas and various settings. From Sep 1, etomidate – an anaesthetic agent found in some vapes known as Kpods – will be classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
This enables tougher enforcement actions against users and suppliers, including higher fines, rehabilitation and, in the case of suppliers, mandatory caning and jail time.
Within the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team, existing urine screening for substance abuse will be expanded to include etomidate. Both agencies have increased enforcement within their premises, including tighter checks at access points.
Public transport operators have stepped up roving patrols on trains and at transport nodes. Bus drivers have referred individuals caught vaping at bus interchanges to HSA, while Transit Security Officers have increased bag checks to detect vape devices.
At public areas, agencies such as the National Parks Board and the National Environment Agency have intensified enforcement patrols. The Singapore Police Force and the Central Narcotics Bureau have stepped up joint enforcement efforts with HSA, with offences found during routine policing also referred for investigation.
At border checkpoints, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has tightened screening to prevent vape smuggling.
To support enforcement, various agencies will be empowered under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA) to seize vapes and issue notices. HSA officers will also be authorised under the Misuse of Drugs Act to investigate etomidate offences and supervise abusers.
To target syndicated smuggling operations, offences under TCASA and the Poisons Acts will be included in the Organised Crime Act and the Online Criminal Harms Act. TCASA offences will also be added to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
These moves will "significantly strengthen the actions that can be taken against sellers, smugglers and syndicates, including requiring the take-down of online vaping content and confiscating the proceeds from sales of e-vaporisers", said MOH and MHA.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will also step up its measures against vaping, with 700 officers gazetted under the TCASA, said Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash.
Help is available under the QuitVape programme for those who wish to kick the habit, said MOH and MHA in the press release.
Those using Kpods can seek help from the Institute of Mental Health, WE CARE Community Services, the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and Fei Yue Community Services.
Users who come forward voluntarily – including minors referred by parents – will not be penalised.
Members of the public can also turn to the Health Promotion Board’s QuitLine for help on stopping smoking or vaping.
Vape disposal bins will continue to be available at selected locations, such as where rehabilitation and QuiteVape programmes are located, for people to dispose of vapes. The bins that were previously placed at community clubs and Residents' Network Centre, as well as institutes of higher learning, will be removed on Aug 31.
SAF and Home Team personnel can seek help through their commanders, medical officers or existing counselling hotlines and medical centres.
The government will also step up public education efforts. The Health Promotion Board will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to incorporate anti-vaping messages in school materials and prevention programmes.
Parents can also access resources and relevant information on Parent Hub and the Families for Life website, including on how to initiate conversations with their children about vaping.
A national campaign, “Don’t Toy With Your Life”, launched in June, aims to raise awareness among youths of vaping harms and promote cessation. A dedicated microsite, gov.sg/stopvaping, provides consolidated support, helplines and reporting channels. Resources are also available on the IMH website.
For areas outside schools as well as online where peddlers may approach children, educating children on the harms of vapes and Kpods is crucial, said the education minister.
"The key is to get right to the heart of young people, our students, amidst all the misinformation and misunderstandings out there," Mr Lee said.
"(This is) so that they avoid, so that they refuse so that they know how to say no ... to peers who try to influence them, so that they can say no to people who attempt to reach out to them, either on Telegram or in the neighbourhood."
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The number of students caught vaping has jumped to an average of 3,100 a year between 2022 and 2024, according to new figures from the Ministry of Education (MOE). In the institutes of higher learning, about 800 students were caught a year during the same period.
In contrast, fewer than 50 cases from schools and institutes of higher learning were referred to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) before 2020.
The nicotine test kits have been issued to around 260 schools since March, following requests from schools, MOE said on Thursday (Aug 28).
All vaping incidents in educational institutions will be reported to the authorities. From Sep 1, students may face school-based penalties such as detention, suspension, caning (for boys), conduct grade adjustments and rehabilitative counselling.
In institutes of higher learning, disciplinary action could include the withdrawal of leadership opportunities, overseas exchange or scholarships, eviction from hostels for university students and fines or community service.
Repeat offenders and traffickers may be suspended or expelled.
(From left) Senior Parliamentary Secretary Eric Chua, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam, Education Minister Desmond Lee and Minister of State for Manpower Dinesh Vasu Dash at a press conference on tackling vaping on Aug 28, 2025. (Photo: CNA/Lim Li Ting)
Designated staff members will be trained and authorised to take enforcement action against students found abusing or distributing vapes, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a press release.
Metal detectors have been deployed at selected campuses to screen for vape devices, and schools have introduced a “peer vigilance culture”, encouraging students to report classmates who vape.
Institutes of higher learning will step up campus patrols, especially at known hotspots.
Education Minister Desmond Lee said at a press conference on Thursday that peer support plays a vital role.
"We know that young people listen to their peers, and so positive peer support is important as well. We encourage students to look for peers who are struggling with vaping and urge them to seek help from trusted adults like our teachers," he said.
This act should not be seen as "getting anyone in trouble", said Mr Lee, but instead "making sure that their friends get the much-needed help they need".
CRACKDOWN ACROSS UNIFORMED SERVICES AND PUBLIC SPACES
Beyond schools, enforcement will intensify across public areas and various settings. From Sep 1, etomidate – an anaesthetic agent found in some vapes known as Kpods – will be classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
This enables tougher enforcement actions against users and suppliers, including higher fines, rehabilitation and, in the case of suppliers, mandatory caning and jail time.
Within the Singapore Armed Forces and Home Team, existing urine screening for substance abuse will be expanded to include etomidate. Both agencies have increased enforcement within their premises, including tighter checks at access points.
Public transport operators have stepped up roving patrols on trains and at transport nodes. Bus drivers have referred individuals caught vaping at bus interchanges to HSA, while Transit Security Officers have increased bag checks to detect vape devices.
At public areas, agencies such as the National Parks Board and the National Environment Agency have intensified enforcement patrols. The Singapore Police Force and the Central Narcotics Bureau have stepped up joint enforcement efforts with HSA, with offences found during routine policing also referred for investigation.
At border checkpoints, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority has tightened screening to prevent vape smuggling.
To support enforcement, various agencies will be empowered under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA) to seize vapes and issue notices. HSA officers will also be authorised under the Misuse of Drugs Act to investigate etomidate offences and supervise abusers.
To target syndicated smuggling operations, offences under TCASA and the Poisons Acts will be included in the Organised Crime Act and the Online Criminal Harms Act. TCASA offences will also be added to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act.
These moves will "significantly strengthen the actions that can be taken against sellers, smugglers and syndicates, including requiring the take-down of online vaping content and confiscating the proceeds from sales of e-vaporisers", said MOH and MHA.
The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will also step up its measures against vaping, with 700 officers gazetted under the TCASA, said Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash.
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SUPPORT FOR USERS WHO WANT TO QUIT
Help is available under the QuitVape programme for those who wish to kick the habit, said MOH and MHA in the press release.
Those using Kpods can seek help from the Institute of Mental Health, WE CARE Community Services, the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and Fei Yue Community Services.
Users who come forward voluntarily – including minors referred by parents – will not be penalised.
Members of the public can also turn to the Health Promotion Board’s QuitLine for help on stopping smoking or vaping.
Vape disposal bins will continue to be available at selected locations, such as where rehabilitation and QuiteVape programmes are located, for people to dispose of vapes. The bins that were previously placed at community clubs and Residents' Network Centre, as well as institutes of higher learning, will be removed on Aug 31.
SAF and Home Team personnel can seek help through their commanders, medical officers or existing counselling hotlines and medical centres.
The government will also step up public education efforts. The Health Promotion Board will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to incorporate anti-vaping messages in school materials and prevention programmes.
Parents can also access resources and relevant information on Parent Hub and the Families for Life website, including on how to initiate conversations with their children about vaping.
A national campaign, “Don’t Toy With Your Life”, launched in June, aims to raise awareness among youths of vaping harms and promote cessation. A dedicated microsite, gov.sg/stopvaping, provides consolidated support, helplines and reporting channels. Resources are also available on the IMH website.
For areas outside schools as well as online where peddlers may approach children, educating children on the harms of vapes and Kpods is crucial, said the education minister.
"The key is to get right to the heart of young people, our students, amidst all the misinformation and misunderstandings out there," Mr Lee said.
"(This is) so that they avoid, so that they refuse so that they know how to say no ... to peers who try to influence them, so that they can say no to people who attempt to reach out to them, either on Telegram or in the neighbourhood."
Continue reading...