Teen, 17, walks like a zombie & falls in MRT train, found with vape & pod, assisting in HSA investigations

A 17-year-old teenager who was seen walking unsteadily and falling on an MRT train recently was found to have a vape and pod on him, according to the Health Sciences Authority (HSA).

The teen is assisting with investigations, HSA said in an Instagram story on Aug. 1.

HSA's post contained a screenshot of a clip of the teen that had been gaining traction online.

The 15-second clip, labelled "Kpod final boss", showed the teen in a white shirt walking unsteadily while attempting to alight from the MRT train.

At the door, the teen lost his footing and fell backwards onto the carriage floor, drawing the attention of other passengers.

Looking shaken, the teen attempted to get back on his feet.

Background

Kpods, a street term for etomidate-laced vapes, have emerged as a public health concern after videos showed users turning into "zombies" and behaving erratically.

Etomidate is a drug used in hospitals during medical procedures, and its use is restricted under Singapore law to medical professionals.

The drug was found in the blood samples of two people involved in the fatal Punggol car crash on May 13, and is suspected to have been used by four teenagers seen acting strangely at Punggol Town Hall on Jun. 24.

Authorities have taken interim measures to address the growing problem of Kpods in Singapore.

On Jul. 20, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that it is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to list etomidate as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

This means that those found with vapes laced with etomidate will be subject to supervision and undergo mandatory rehabilitation, similar to other drug offenders.

Repeated offenders will be prosecuted and can face jail terms.

A 41-year-old Singaporean man was charged on Jul. 17 for allegedly manufacturing Kpods for sale at his flat in Yishun, in the first such case to be prosecuted in Singapore.

Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said on Jul. 30 that MOH is looking into possible new legislation to deal with etomidate and other similar substances.

Shanmugam added that the government is working closely with schools and parents to strengthen enforcement and raise awareness.

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Top image from hamsterfats/Reddit & HSA's Instagram