Explainer: How Kpods are destroying lives in Singapore

Sinar Daily

a day ago

SHAH ALAM - Kpods, drug-laced vape pods that look like regular e-cigarettes with fruity flavours are becoming a dangerous new addiction among youth in Singapore.
These devices may look harmless with their sweet smell and sleek design, but they actually contain strong sedatives.
This rising trend is quickly spreading among young people, driven by confusion about its legality and the false belief that it is safe.
Beneath the surface lies a far more serious threat, with devastating consequences for users and mounting regret among families left to deal with the aftermath.
What are Kpods?
Kpods are drug-laced vape pods, a street name for devices that appear similar to regular e-cigarettes but are infused with powerful sedatives like etomidate or ketamine.
These substances are medically used as anaesthetics, but when consumed recreationally through vapes, they produce strong hallucinogenic and dissociative effects.
In Singapore, they are often referred to as 'zombie vapes' or 'space oil' for their tendency to leave users staggering, semi-conscious or convulsing.
Despite their similarity to banned e-cigarettes, these modified vapes have exploited legal grey areas, leading to widespread misinformation and increasing use among teens and young adults. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Shermaine's story: A father's regret
On Sept 22, 2024, 19-year-old Shermaine Tay stumbled out of her Tanjong Pagar flat at 2.30am. Security footage captured her struggling to walk, her father Delfard Tay recognised the signs immediately. She had likely used a Kpod again.
It was reported that 90 minutes later, she was found dead at the foot of her HDB block. A post-mortem confirmed she died from injuries caused by a fall. Her mobile phone was found on the 18th floor, but no suicide note was discovered.
Her father, a former convict with a history of drug offences, had tried for months to warn her.
'I wanted to lead by example and tell her to stay away from drugs and Kpods. But it was a bit too late,' he told The Straits Times.
Shermaine had previously been placed under drug supervision for methamphetamine use but later turned to Kpods, believing them to be safer. Delfard remembered her explaining:
'When you smoke it, you will feel high.'
She dismissed his concerns, insisting he did not understand youth culture. Their arguments grew bitter. After one episode where she convulsed on the sofa, Delfard realised how far her addiction had gone.
'She was not looking up to me. I really did not know how to care for her as a single parent,' he admitted.
Shermaine dropped out of school after Secondary 3, posted vape videos on TikTok and became increasingly withdrawn. Her father said she was once full of life, dancing with joy and enjoying family trips to Hong Kong Disneyland.
Now, he clings to her makeup kit, scrapbook, photos and a birthday pouch with Lilo and Stitch toys—gifts she gave him just months before she died.
A widening crisis: Parents share similar pain
Shermaine's story is not isolated. In June 2025, a 56-year-old woman told Shin Min Daily News how her 27-year-old son, addicted to Kpods since October 2024, tried to jump out a window while high. She had to physically restrain him.
'He scratched my neck during the struggle,' she said, urging other parents to pay close attention and seek help early.
These reports echo videos circulating online showing teens walking erratically, some shaking uncontrollably—symptoms associated with Kpod use. When shown a video of three youths acting like 'zombies' in Punggol, Delfard said:
'That is how Shermaine walked too, as if her joints were jammed.'
How are Kpods so dangerous?
According to the Singapore Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs, 28 cases involving etomidate were detected by the Health Sciences Authority by June 30, nearly triple the 10 cases in all of 2024.
Kpods pose a unique threat because: Their liquid content looks like regular vape juice, making detection difficult.
Some contain ketamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, or even heroin—making the psychological and physiological impact unpredictable.
Many dealers do not even know what is inside.
One Malaysian seller confessed to CNA Today that he relied on his supplier's word, admitting he had 'no idea' what exactly was in the Kpods he sold.
Social service agencies say young people are especially vulnerable due to: Misconceptions that Kpods are 'harmless highs.'
The belief they are undetectable in urine tests, as claimed in Telegram chat rooms.
A lack of parental oversight, especially when mobile phones and peer influence go unchecked.
According to Addictions Recovery Singapore, the risk is not just etomidate.
'Vape liquids have been laced with synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine and other hard drugs. The risk of psychological harm and multi-drug dependency is real,' they said. Photo for illustration purposes only.
Regional alarms and cross-border concerns
Kpods are not only a problem in Singapore. They are part of a growing issue across Southeast Asia: Malaysia recorded 119 drug-laced vape seizures in 2024, up from 32 the year before.
In June 2024, three Singaporeans were among four charged in Malaysia for trafficking nearly 5,000 vape pods containing liquid cocaine.
In Thailand, two Singaporeans were arrested in Bangkok for selling meth and heroin-laced vapes.
These cases show how easily these modified vapes are spreading, often marketed as innocent lifestyle products but containing deadly drugs.
'I do not blame her friends': Lessons from loss
Shermaine's wake lasted three days, with friends from church and school coming to mourn. Delfard was asked what had happened but he had no clear answers.
'I was angry at first, but I do not blame any of Shermaine's friends,' he said.
He later learned that one of her peers had also died from Kpod abuse that same week. Now, Delfard wants to turn his pain into prevention.
'Teenagers as young as 12 to 15 already have mobile phones and use Telegram chats. Parents should check their children's phones and be aware of who they are interacting with. That is important.
'I know you're curious about things like Kpods, but don't try them. Once you start and can't stop, you'll end up trapped for a long time. It won't just affect you, it'll affect your family too,' he warned.
The urgency of awareness
The tragedy of Tay is both personal and national. Her story reveals how deeply misinformation, peer pressure and parental absence can intersect to lead a child into a deadly trap.
But it also shows how early intervention, honest conversations and stronger regulation could save lives. With Kpods becoming more accessible and harder to trace in Singapore, the time to act is now before it spreads into Malaysia.