Vape misuse for drug use on the rise, says USM poison centre

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) National Poison Centre (NPC) director Dr Nur Azzalia Kamaruzaman has warned that vape devices are increasingly being misused to consume drugs and illicit substances, particularly among children and teenagers. She stated that vape products are no longer used solely as nicotine delivery devices but are also becoming a gateway to drug abuse. The substances involved include synthetic drugs such as synthetic cannabis, fentanyl and etomidate, which have extremely potent effects and are often difficult to treat using conventional clinical approaches. The rapid development of vape products has made monitoring and regulation challenging, as laboratory capabilities to screen for illicit substances remain limited and costly. The situation is exacerbated by rising vape use among teenagers, which increased from 9.8% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022. Dr Nur Azzalia noted that data on vape-related poisoning cases does not reflect the actual situation in Malaysia, as it is based solely on enquiries for advice rather than a national reporting database. She described the situation as a "ticking time bomb" that could result in a larger public health crisis. Consequently, the PRN supports efforts by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and calls by the police (PDRM) to consider banning vape products to safeguard public health and safety.

(Source：Thesun)