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Remarks by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Social and Family Development at the Press Conference on Whole-of-Government Efforts to Tackle Vaping

Type: Official Speeches: Eric Chua,

Topic(s): Children & Families, Rehabilitation,

Published on 28 August 2025

MSF’s Commitment

 

For MSF, a key focus is our youths.

Vaping and etomidate abuse affects not just the young person himself or herself, but also their family members and loved ones.

We want to support both youth abusers and their loved ones.

 

Youth Etomidate Abusers

 

First, we need to understand why youths vape or abuse substances.

Youths often vape or abuse substances because of deeper, underlying issues (such as negative peer influence, or mental health issues). We need to address these issues and lend them the appropriate support.

Today, low-risk youth drug offenders go through a rehabilitation program called the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme.

 

  1. This is a structured rehab program, run by Social Service Agencies on the ground like (SHINE Children & Youth Services, Singapore Children’s Society, Allkin SG)
  2. This rehab program has proven to be effective thus far
    1. with 94% completion rate and two-year recidivism rate is at a low of 9.2%(2023).

As part of the program, caseworkers have primarily three objectives:  

  1. The first is to help youths understand and appreciate the impact of substance abuse on both their own health and well-being, as well as its impact on their loved ones;
  2. Second, to enhance motivation for behavioural change and strengthen pro social behaviours such as seeking positive and supportive connections; and
  3. Third is to equip them with new skills to desist from substances like drugs, such as emotional regulation and peer refusal.

 

We will extend this rehab program to first- and second-time etomidate youth abusers; but we will differentiate the program based on needs

  1.  Youths caught for the first time will undergo a 3-month rehab program, with up to 10 intervention sessions.
  2. Youths caught for the second time will undergo a 6-month rehab program, with at least 16 intervention sessions. They will also be put on HSA’s supervision for 6 months, to ensure that they stay drug-free. 
  3. Colleagues from IMH will also provide tele-health support if the youths need medical help to overcome the addiction.  
  4. We will involve the youths’ family members and caregivers in the rehab process, this is an important point especially for repeat offenders, because loved ones play a very important role in the process of rehabilitation and healing.

Support for Families

 

And we would also want to support family members and loved ones. If needed, we will refer them to the Social Service Offices or Family Service Centres.

 

We will also equip parents with resources and skills:

  1. MSF will put together a resource guide for parents. It will be made available through the Families for Life’s platforms and various other touchpoints such as Parents Support Groups and parenting programs.
  2. We will also conduct webinars and talks, and share with parents some skills on
    1. how to have open conversations with their children
    2. how to detect signs of suspected vaping, and
    3. different ways to seek help for their children.

3. The Families for Life website will also serve as an information portal on vapes and etomidate abuse, and list sources of help, and serve as an easy reference for parents and family members. 

Adult Etomidate Abusers

 

Other than youth, SSAs such as WE CARE Community Svcs, SANA, Fei Yue and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities:

 

  1. Provide rehab for adults who proactively seek help

     

  2. They also provide stepped-down care for first- and second-time adult etomidate abusers, after their treatment at the IMH

 

Conclusion

 

As we speak, work has already begun. Our Social Service Agencies have taken on their first youth etomidate case under the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme this week, even though the official start date is 1 Sep.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our social service professionals – e.g. social workers, youth workers – for really stepping up in support of this national effort. Thank you.

 

 

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