Kuala lumpur: Vape devices are increasingly being misused to consume drugs and illicit substances, raising concerns over public health and safety, particularly among children and teenagers, according to Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), National Poison Centre (NPC).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, NPC director Dr. Nur Azzalia Kamaruzaman stated that vape products are no longer used solely as nicotine delivery devices but are also becoming a gateway to drug abuse among young people. She highlighted that the rapid evolution of vape products over the past decade has made monitoring, enforcement, and the treatment of poisoning cases more challenging, as the substances used continue to change.
Dr. Kamaruzaman explained that vape devices are increasingly being misused for the consumption of drugs and prohibited substances. These 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. She noted the rapid development of vape products has made them difficult to monitor and regulate, with laboratory capabilities to screen for and confirm the presence of illicit substances in vape products remaining limited and costly.
Efforts to detect misuse are becoming increasingly difficult as changes in the illicit market often outpace detection capabilities, Dr. Kamaruzaman warned. She emphasized that early exposure to nicotine can affect children's and adolescents' brain development, cognitive function, learning ability, and behavioral development.
The situation is exacerbated by the rising prevalence of vape use among teenagers, which increased from 9.8 percent in 2017 to 14.9 percent in 2022, according to data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS). Dr. Kamaruzaman noted that this trend indicates more young people are exposed to nicotine and face a higher risk of addiction and substance abuse at an earlier age.
Dr. Kamaruzaman also mentioned that data on vape-related poisoning cases received by the PRN does not reflect the actual situation in Malaysia, as it is based solely on inquiries received for poisoning management advice rather than a national reporting database. She described the situation as a "ticking time bomb" that could escalate into a larger public health crisis.
In light of these concerns, Dr. Kamaruzaman stated that 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, particularly among the younger generation.