A 19-year-old woman’s death in Singapore has revealed the devastating reality behind a growing crisis involving drug-laced vapes. Shermaine Tay’s fatal fall from her apartment building in September 2024 has prompted urgent warnings about these deadly products, which are spreading rapidly across Southeast Asia and beyond.

Understanding the Drug-Laced Vapes Phenomenon

Shermaine’s father, Delfard Tay, watched helplessly as his only child battled a severe addiction. Over nearly a year, her health and behaviour deteriorated. In her final days, she vomited uncontrollably, trembled, and showed clear signs of substance dependency.

Security footage from the night of her death showed Shermaine leaving their Tanjong Pagar apartment at 4 a.m., stumbling and shaking. Delfard recognised the same erratic movements he had seen when she was under the influence of drug-laced vapes. Authorities ruled her death a suicide, but Delfard remains convinced that the substances inside these vapes caused her fatal fall.

The Kpod Crisis in Southeast Asia

A new category of drug-laced vapes known as Kpods has become especially alarming. These products often contain ketamine and other powerful substances that send users into a trance-like, “zombie” state.

Across Southeast Asia, reports describe teenagers as young as 13 collapsing or behaving violently after using these devices. Despite Singapore’s famously strict drug laws, the popularity of drug-laced vapes continues to grow, largely because they look identical to ordinary nicotine vapes.

Why Drug-Laced Vapes Are So Dangerous

Addictions Recovery Singapore reports that many vape liquids are contaminated with drugs such as ketamine, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and synthetic cannabinoids. Users often have no idea what they are inhaling.

A major concern is etomidate, a powerful anaesthetic frequently found in drug-laced vapes. Although it causes severe behavioural and neurological effects, it often goes undetected in routine drug tests.

Dealers take advantage of this loophole by marketing these vapes online, claiming they are “safe” from detection. Because etomidate is covered under Singapore’s Poisons Act instead of its drug laws, users falsely believe they won’t get caught. Government testing recently found that one in three seized vapes contained etomidate.

The Physical and Mental Effects

Social workers have reported a disturbing rise in young users displaying confusion, aggression, and disorientation after using drug-laced vapes. Some have collapsed or suffered convulsions.

Shermaine’s father recalled how his daughter’s condition worsened: she vomited frequently, trembled, and repeated sentences in loops. He described seeing others under the same influence — shaking uncontrollably or falling backwards while smiling — showing how deeply these substances affect the brain and body.

A Growing Global Crisis

This issue is not limited to Southeast Asia. The United Kingdom has also reported cases of drug-laced vapes containing ketamine, Spice, and Xylazine (also known as “Tranq”). In one study, one in six vapes confiscated from English schoolchildren contained the synthetic drug Spice.

Such data reveal how the crisis has become international. Criminal networks appear to be distributing contaminated vapes globally, targeting young people who often have no idea what they are inhaling.

A Bright Future Cut Short

Shermaine dreamed of becoming a TikTok influencer, but her curiosity led to addiction after she tried drug-laced vapes with friends. Her father described how arguments increased in the final weeks before her death as her condition worsened.

The footage from that final night tells the tragic truth — a young woman completely overtaken by substances she never fully understood.

Why Teenagers Are Especially at Risk

Teenagers remain the most vulnerable to drug-laced vapes because these devices look harmless. Many parents still assume their children are simply vaping nicotine. Peer influence and curiosity often lead to first-time use, while the false sense of safety from negative drug tests encourages repeated consumption.

Shermaine’s story reflects how this illusion of safety can destroy lives.

What Can Be Done

Delfard now advocates for stronger prevention and support systems. He believes schools and parents must work together to educate teenagers about drug-laced vapes and their hidden dangers.

He also calls for better testing methods, since standard urine tests fail to detect substances like etomidate. Health authorities agree that early detection and intervention are crucial to saving young lives.

Warning Signs for Parents

Parents should pay attention to symptoms such as unexplained vomiting, trembling, repetitive speech, confusion, or sudden mood swings. These could signal exposure to drug-laced vapes.

Other signs include secrecy about vaping devices, changes in friendship groups, and declining academic performance. If these patterns appear, immediate professional help is essential.

The Need for Global Cooperation

The spread of drug-laced vapes across countries demands an international response. Dealers often use encrypted platforms like Telegram to reach young users. Governments must collaborate to shut down these online markets, standardise testing, and trace the origins of contaminated products.

A Father’s Call for Change

Shermaine’s death is not an isolated tragedy — it represents the silent suffering of many families worldwide. By sharing her story, Delfard hopes to prevent others from going through the same heartbreak.

The rise of drug-laced vapes exposes a dangerous gap between what young people think they’re using and what they’re actually inhaling. Stronger laws, better education, and active parental involvement are vital to stopping this deadly trend before more lives are lost.

Source: Mirror