SUPPORT FOR USERS WHO WANT TO QUIT
Help is available under the QuitVape programme for those who wish to kick the habit, said MOH and MHA in the press release.
Those using Kpods can seek help from the Institute of Mental Health, WE CARE Community Services, the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities and Fei Yue Community Services.
Users who come forward voluntarily – including minors referred by parents – will not be penalised.
Members of the public can also turn to the Health Promotion Board’s QuitLine for help on stopping smoking or vaping.
Vape disposal bins will continue to be available at selected locations, such as where rehabilitation and QuiteVape programmes are located, for people to dispose of vapes. The bins that were previously placed at community clubs and Residents’ Network Centre, as well as institutes of higher learning, will be removed on Aug 31.
SAF and Home Team personnel can seek help through their commanders, medical officers or existing counselling hotlines and medical centres.
The government will also step up public education efforts. The Health Promotion Board will continue to work with the Ministry of Education to incorporate anti-vaping messages in school materials and prevention programmes.
Parents can also access resources and relevant information on Parent Hub and the Families for Life website, including on how to initiate conversations with their children about vaping.
A national campaign, “Don’t Toy With Your Life”, launched in June, aims to raise awareness among youths of vaping harms and promote cessation. A dedicated microsite, gov.sg/stopvaping, provides consolidated support, helplines and reporting channels. Resources are also available on the IMH website.
For areas outside schools as well as online where peddlers may approach children, educating children on the harms of vapes and Kpods is crucial, said the education minister.
“The key is to get right to the heart of young people, our students, amidst all the misinformation and misunderstandings out there,” Mr Lee said.
“(This is) so that they avoid, so that they refuse so that they know how to say no … to peers who try to influence them, so that they can say no to people who attempt to reach out to them, either on Telegram or in the neighbourhood.”
