S'pore man, 27, tried to jump, choked & hit his mum after being confronted for using 'Kpods'

When a mother confronted her 27-year-old son about using "Kpods", a type of drug-laced vape, he reportedly reacted violently, threatened to jump off a building and physically assaulted her in the process.

He also strangled his mother and slammed her head against a wall, leaving her injured.

Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, the 56-year-old mother described her son's behaviour as "worse than death".

Looked like zombie

The mother first became suspicious in October 2024 when she noticed that her son was behaving abnormally.

"He was shaking and staggering," she said, adding that she later found the e-cigarette cartridges in his room.

Because she worked every day, she failed to notice the changes earlier.

Her son had previously worked at a milk tea shop, but resigned at the end of October without giving notice.

"Now, he does nothing at home but smoke e-cigarettes, play games, and watch TV," she lamented.

Violent outburst

On Nov. 18, 2024, the mother decided to confront her son about his drug use.

He apparently 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 a few hours of evaluation, he was discharged and returned home.

The following day, she brought up 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 reportedly choked her and slammed her head against the wall.

Attempt to jump from corridor

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.

He was then detained by the Central Narcotics Bureau for several hours.

The mother later bailed him out and went to the hospital for emergency care.

Feared for safety

Fearing for her safety, the mother said she could not sleep at night and was constantly anxious.

She applied for a protection order and also petitioned the court to place her son under mandatory treatment starting May 30 this year for a duration of one year.

Since February, his condition appeared to improve, she noted.

He no longer displayed tremors or unsteady movements, and the mother hopes he has stopped using Kpods.

She suspected that he had run out of money to buy the vapes.

Bought more vapes

On Jun. 19, the son told his mother that a friend wanted to buy a keyboard, and 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.

But 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 later discovered he had sold the keyboard and had S$100 in his bank account, of which S$77 was likely spent on vapes.

To prevent him from getting money for drugs, the mother hides her wallet every day.

If he needs to buy food or cigarettes, she either buys it or give him just enough.

She also revealed that her son had borrowed from loan companies and loan sharks, and she has repaid S$4,000 on his behalf.

Growing threat of "Kpods"

A counsellor from the WE CARE rehabilitation centre told Shin Min that there are two main types of "Kpods" on the market, one containing ketamine, and the other etomidate.

The latter is more common now, he noted.

He said "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, conditions that 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.

A mother’s plea

The mother said her son now eats only one meal a day, speaks incoherently, and responds to questions with irrelevant answers.

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.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News