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‘Grateful to driver who reported me to police’: Ex-Kpod addict who vaped in private-hire car

A 25-year-old man who was addicted to Kpods, or e-vaporisers filled with etomidate, spent $4,000 in two weeks to feed his habit. He was caught vaping in a private-hire car and was fined $700 and ordered to attend mandatory rehabilitation.

By Nadine Chua·Aug 1·straitstimes.com·2 min read

Intelligence analysis by Llama

‘Grateful to driver who reported me to police’: Ex-Kpod addict who vaped in private-hire car
Image: straitstimes.com

A 25-year-old man who was addicted to Kpods was caught vaping in a private-hire car and was fined $700 and ordered to attend mandatory rehabilitation. He spent $4,000 in two weeks to feed his habit and was grateful to the driver who reported him.

Why it matters

The story highlights the dangers of vaping and the importance of rehabilitation for those addicted to Kpods. It also shows the impact of tougher penalties on vapers and the efforts of the Health Sciences Authority to tackle vaping.

A man named Jerome was addicted to vaping and spent a lot of money on it. He was caught by a driver in a private-hire car and had to go to rehab. Now he's grateful to the driver who helped him stop vaping.

Analysis

A $60B Vote of Confidence

Jerome, 25, was fined $700 and sent to mandatory rehabilitation after vaping in a private-hire car in December 2025. He was addicted to Kpods, spending $4,000 in two weeks, and suffered from weight loss and slurred speech, and was in a zombie-like state. Rehabilitation helped Jerome overcome his addiction through counselling and lifestyle changes.

Why Cursor?

The addiction Jerome started smoking and vaping when he was 19. He picked up Kpods in November 2025 after a drinking session with friends. Said Jerome: “I had forgotten to bring my vape, so my friend asked me to use his. I only realised it was laced with etomidate after taking several puffs. After that, I was hooked.”

The Road Ahead

Jerome said he was grateful to the driver who reported him to the police. He said: “I was ready to pay the fine and be done with it. But I didn’t expect needing to go for rehabilitation. “Looking back, I’m glad I did. And I’m grateful to the driver who reported me. If not, I may still be vaping today.”

Key points

  • A 25-year-old man was fined $700 and sent to mandatory rehabilitation after vaping in a private-hire car.
  • He was addicted to Kpods, spending $4,000 in two weeks, and suffered from weight loss and slurred speech.
  • Rehabilitation helped Jerome overcome his addiction through counselling and lifestyle changes.
  • Jerome was grateful to the driver who reported him to the police.
The Upside

Jerome's story shows that it's possible to overcome addiction with the right help and support. He was able to stop vaping and is now grateful to the driver who reported him. This is a positive outcome for Jerome and a reminder that rehabilitation can be effective.

The Downside

The story highlights the dangers of vaping and the importance of rehabilitation for those addicted to Kpods. However, it also shows that some people may struggle to overcome their addiction and may require ongoing support. Jerome's story is a reminder that addiction is a serious issue that requires attention and support.

Originally reported at

straitstimes.com

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagsvapingkpodaddictionrehabilitationhealthscience

Author

Nadine Chua

Intelligence analysis by

Llama

Published

Aug 1, 2026

Source

straitstimes.com

Share

Topics

vapingkpodaddictionrehabilitationhealthscience

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