SINGAPORE – Etomidate, which is increasingly being abused through e-vaporiser pods (Kpods) and devices, will be listed as an illegal drug from Sept 1.The anaesthetic agent will be classified under the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) as a Class C drug, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Aug 24 on the sidelines of a community event in Serangoon.“As was announced by various ministers, including the Prime Minister at the National Day Rally, we are taking steps to strengthen the framework of enforcement, especially for users and abusers of vapes and etomidate vapes,” he said.Etomidate is a medicinal ingredient used in clinical practice and is currently classified as a poison under the Poisons Act.Once reclassified under the MDA, abusers of etomidate will face harsher penalties, such as a maximum sentence of 10 years’ jail and a $20,000 fine for illegal possession and use.Those who traffic in Class C drugs may be jailed for up to 10 years and given five strokes of the cane.This is compared with the maximum penalty of two years’ jail and a $10,000 fine under the Poisons Act for possession, use and trafficking. Read more