Singapore will list etomidate as a Class C controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) from 1 September, 2025, in response to its rising misuse through e-vaporiser devices known as Kpods.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced the reclassification on 24 August during a community event in Serangoon.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to tightening enforcement against vape-related abuse, referencing recent remarks made by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong during the National Day Rally.
Currently, etomidate is a prescription-only anaesthetic regulated under the Poisons Act.
It is medically approved for intravenous use during clinical procedures.
However, illicit sellers have increasingly repurposed etomidate for abuse through vape products, prompting a regulatory shift.
The use, possession, and sale of e-vaporisers have been illegal in Singapore since 2018, as part of broader efforts to prevent nicotine addiction and curb behaviours that may serve as a gateway to drug use, especially among young people.
Under the new classification, individuals found in possession or using etomidate illegally may face up to 10 years in prison, a S$20,000 fine, or both. Traffickers risk a jail term of up to 10 years and five strokes of the cane.
These penalties are significantly more severe than those under the Poisons Act, which currently allows for a maximum of two years’ imprisonment and a S$10,000 fine for similar offences.
Etomidate’s misuse has been linked to severe health outcomes.
According to Ong, when inhaled via Kpods, the substance can cause seizures, breathing difficulties, psychosis, and muscle spasms.
The Health Minister also confirmed in July that several deaths in Singapore have been connected to etomidate abuse.
Approximately one-third of vape devices seized and tested during recent enforcement operations were found to contain etomidate, Ong revealed in a prior update on 20 July.
Authorities say online sellers are marketing these products as undetectable via standard urine drug screenings, raising concerns about widespread and covert use among youth and young adults.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) notes that while etomidate has clinical applications, it poses significant dangers when used outside a medical setting.
Its inhalation via the lungs—as occurs with Kpods—is especially hazardous and medically unsupported.
Class C drugs in Singapore are defined as substances with lower potential for harm than Class A or B drugs, yet serious enough to require strict control.
Other substances in this category include the stimulant pipradrol and the sedative nimetazepam (commonly known as Erimin-5), both of which have approved medical uses but are tightly regulated due to potential misuse.
The MDA also enables rehabilitation-focused enforcement.
Individuals found to be addicts may be mandated to remain in a drug rehabilitation centre for 12 months unless discharged earlier by the authorities.
More details about government measures to combat vaping and the misuse of etomidate are expected to be announced at a press conference scheduled for 28 August.
Ong, who also serves as Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, stressed that the government is strengthening enforcement mechanisms in tandem with the new legislation.
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