A Singapore father was allegedly punched after confronting a teen he believed had been supplying his 18-year-old son with illegal Kpods — electronic vapes laced with the sedative etomidate. The altercation highlights the growing anxiety among parents as youth vaping spirals into a dangerous health and social issue.
The teen’s mother, surnamed Chen, recounted to Shin Min Daily News how her son, an ITE student, had changed drastically over the past year. After displaying signs of confusion, repeatedly falling and injuring himself, and becoming increasingly withdrawn, Chen suspected he was using Kpods. She found numerous empty pods in his room — and upon confronting him, the teen admitted to using them.
Chen believes her son might have taken up vaping in a bid to fit in with peers. She suspects he sourced his supply through Telegram and a male friend.
Violent Confrontation at Serangoon Residence
On April 7, the teen left for a gathering and failed to return home. Alarmed by his slurred speech over a phone call and tracking his location via GPS, Chen rushed to a Serangoon address where she found him leaving with a male friend. When she confronted them, the friend allegedly pushed her and made veiled threats, including telling her, “Your son doesn’t have any money to buy them,” when asked if he was supplying Kpods.
Chen called her ex-husband, the boy’s father, who arrived shortly after. Tensions boiled over into a physical altercation between the father and the alleged supplier. Chen claimed both her ex-husband and the friend’s mother were hurt during the scuffle. When the friend’s parents searched his room, vapes were found — but they denied ownership belonged to their son.
Helplessness and Desperation Amid Teen’s Continued Use
Despite their efforts, Chen says her son’s addiction has worsened. He has continued using Kpods, even after temporarily staying with his father. At one point, he collapsed with a vape in hand, bleeding and disoriented. Although the police were called and confiscated the device, no further action was taken.
Chen revealed she was previously hesitant to report her son, fearing fines as the parent of a minor vape user. However, authorities have since clarified that no penalties will be imposed on parents who report their children.
“My heart really aches to see my son like this,” Chen said. “I’m trying, but nothing works.”
Parental Support and Cessation Help Available
The Health Promotion Board encourages parents to act early. They can contact the HPB QuitLine at 1800 438 2000 for referrals to support programmes for smoking and vaping cessation.
As Kpod-related incidents continue to rise in Singapore, the mental toll on families is becoming alarmingly visible. With e-vaporisers illegal and linked to serious side effects, including dizziness and unconsciousness, the urgency for intervention is undeniable — not just for the teenagers, but for their families grappling with the fallout.