Buying Kpods: You just need money

Vape sellers market the devices to look trendy

A mother on her son who is hooked on Kpods

The roles of different Govt agencies 

What could happen if we fail to act on Kpods?

Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week. 

Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.

Videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online – in particular, of younger people – turning into “zombies” and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes.

An anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, etomidate is classified as a poison, which can only be used by licensed medical professionals. 

In this episode of The Usual Place podcast, I spoke with my colleague and crime reporter Nadine Chua; Yio Chu Kang SMC MP Yip Hon Weng, who has raised multiple questions in Parliament on vaping over the past few years; and executive director of youth mental health charity Impart, Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, who has encountered teens using Kpods.

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:37 You don’t need to tell sellers your age, you just need money, notes Mr Narasimman

6:37 Vape sellers market the devices to look trendy or innocuous

14:01 “If he continues down this path, it’s like he’s gone anyway.”: Ms Chua on how a mother shared about her struggle with her son who is hooked on Kpods

14:54 The roles – and limitations – of different government agencies such as the Central Narcotics Bureau and Health Sciences Authority

27:36 What could happen in the long run if we fail to act on Kpods today?

Read ST's coverage on the invisible vaping crisis: https://str.sg/JpFev

Read Nadine Chua's articles: https://str.sg/3z8M3

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic: https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh & Natasha Liew

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Helplines: Mental well-being


National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)


Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)


Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019


Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928


Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1


Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)


The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)

Counselling


Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252


Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555


Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366


We Care Community Services: 3165-8017


Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293


Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990

Online resources


mindline.sg/fsmh
eC2.sg


tinklefriend.sg


chat.mentalhealth.sg


carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)


limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)


shanyou.org.sg

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

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#tup #tuptr

Kpods, a street term for drug-laced e-vaporisers, has been much-talked about this week.&nbsp;
Synopsis: Join Natasha Ann Zachariah at The Usual Place as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.
Videos of vape users taken by the public have been surfacing online &ndash; in particular, of younger people &ndash; turning into &ldquo;zombies&rdquo; and behaving erratically after using etomidate-laced vapes.
An anaesthetic used in hospitals during medical procedures, etomidate is classified as a poison, which can only be used by licensed medical professionals.&nbsp;
In this episode of The Usual Place podcast, I spoke with my colleague and crime reporter Nadine Chua; Yio Chu Kang SMC MP Yip Hon Weng, who has raised multiple questions in Parliament on vaping over the past few years; and executive director of youth mental health charity Impart, Narasimman Tivasiha Mani, who has encountered teens using Kpods.
Highlights (click/tap above):
5:37 You don&rsquo;t need to tell sellers your age, you just need money, notes Mr Narasimman
6:37 Vape sellers market the devices to look trendy or innocuous
14:01 &ldquo;If he continues down this path, it&rsquo;s like he&rsquo;s gone anyway.&rdquo;: Ms Chua on how a mother shared about her struggle with her son who is hooked on Kpods
14:54 The roles &ndash; and limitations &ndash; of different government agencies such as the Central Narcotics Bureau and Health Sciences Authority
27:36 What could happen in the long run if we fail to act on Kpods today?
Read ST's coverage on the invisible vaping crisis:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JpFev">https://str.sg/JpFev</a>
Read Nadine Chua's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/3z8M3">https://str.sg/3z8M3</a>
Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha&rsquo;s articles:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/iSXm">https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow Natasha on her IG account and DM her your thoughts on this topic:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast">https://www.instagram.com/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh &amp; Natasha Liew
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
Helplines: Mental well-being
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
National helpline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Women&rsquo;s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555&nbsp;(weekdays,&nbsp;9am to 5pm)
</li>
</ul>
Counselling
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Touchline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Touch Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
We Care Community Services: 3165-8017
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Shan You Counselling Centre: 6741-9293
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
Clarity Singapore: 6757-7990
</li>
</ul>
Online resources
<ul>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
mindline.sg/fsmh
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">eC2.sg</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
tinklefriend.sg
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
chat.mentalhealth.sg
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25)
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25)
</li>
<li data-testid="bulleted-article-list-item-test-id">
shanyou.org.sg
</li>
</ul>
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday: Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/5nfm" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/5nfm&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749785082534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0lVWPuRyh5m8VD7V76OV1m">https://str.sg/5nfm</a> Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/9ijX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/9ijX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749785082534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2gkqh0LEQ_ChzavW5BHf8F">https://str.sg/9ijX</a> Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/cd2P" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/cd2P&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1749785082534000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1A48Vj69llfD3EPQP2ZvlM">https://str.sg/cd2P</a> YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a> Feedback to:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
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---
#tup #tuptr

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor & Ernest Luis

Editorial producer: Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong, Elizabeth Khor &amp; Ernest Luis
Editorial producer: Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

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