Kpod substance etomidate to be listed in Misuse of Drugs Act from Sep. 1: Ong Ye Kung

Kpod substance etomidate will be listed in the Misuse of Drugs Act from Sep. 1, 2025, announced Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung on Aug. 24.

The drug will be listed as a Class C drug, meaning that it will be illegal to traffic, manufacture, import, export, possess, or consume etomidate without authorisation.

This comes as the government has begun implementing stricter measures over the past months to crack down on etomidate and vaping.

A press conference will be held on Aug. 28 to announce further details.

Ong previously said that under the Misuse of Drugs Act, offenders will be treated "not differently" from those who consume drugs like cannabis or cocaine.

This means that those found with vapes laced with etomidate will be subject to supervision and undergo mandatory rehabilitation.

For Class C drugs, offenders involved in trafficking may face a minimum of two years jail and two strokes of the cane.

Offenders who consume controlled drugs under the Misuse of Drugs Act may face a jail term of one to 10 years, and also a fine not exceeding S$20,000.

Repeated offenders will be given more severe punishments.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had also noted that the Singapore government will be taking much tougher action against vaping during his 2025 National Day Rally speech earlier in August.

Top image via Mothership & MOH & HSA