A Singapore mother discovered her 18-year-old son lying on the ground bleeding from his limbs last week. He was still attempting to refill his vape device despite his collapsed state.
Ms Tan, 39, first noticed her son’s strange behavior after he began using Kpod vapes last year. The devices, also known as “zombie vapes,” are semi-transparent and unusually long. They bear skull symbols and the word “poison.”
“He started acting like he wasn’t in his right mind,” Ms Tan told Shin Min Daily News.
The teen has been living with his mother since her divorce four years ago. His behavior became increasingly erratic after he started vaping. He has collapsed multiple times both at home and in public places.
Ms Tan believes her son obtained the devices through Telegram or from friends. Despite repeated requests from his mother to quit, he continued using the vapes.
Physical Altercation Erupts Over Vape Supply
On April 7, 2025, the teen told his mother he was visiting a friend for dinner and swimming. When he failed to return by nightfall, Ms Tan called him and noticed slurred speech.
She used phone tracking to locate him at a Serangoon residence. During a confrontation at the gate, the friend allegedly shoved Ms Tan.
“If you keep doing this, your son will never take care of you in the future,” the friend said.
When Ms Tan accused him of supplying vapes to her son, he responded: “Your son can’t even afford it now.”
Ms Tan called her ex-husband for assistance. A fight broke out when the father arrived. The friend punched the boy’s father. The friend’s mother was also struck while trying to intervene.
After discussions, the friend’s parents searched their son’s room and found vape devices. They claimed the items belonged to Ms Tan’s son.
Mother Tries Vape Device, Experiences Paralysis
Ms Tan called an ambulance and police after finding her son bleeding and dazed. Medical personnel attempted to counsel the teen but were unsuccessful. Officers confiscated the vape device but took no further action.
The mother had previously avoided contacting authorities due to concerns about fines. “I really don’t have the means to keep paying if this continues,” she said.
In a desperate attempt to understand her son’s addiction, Ms Tan once tried the device herself. “The first puff did nothing,” she recalled. “But by the second, my mind went blank. My body was paralysed. It lasted about 15 minutes.”
In June 2025, the teen’s father took over care responsibilities for several weeks. The son vaped again and collapsed at his father’s home. A subsequent urine test returned negative results.
The teen has fallen and sustained injuries multiple times, often appearing confused and disoriented. Ms Tan has found empty vape cartridges and charging cables during room searches.
Family Struggles with Blame and Emotional Impact
Ms Tan questions whether the divorce affected her son’s behavior. “Parents will always blame themselves,” she said. “Did the divorce affect him? Was I too busy with work?”
Her elder sister described the teen as previously well-behaved and close to the family. She now assists Ms Tan in monitoring him to prevent further incidents.
Ms Tan said her son has been emotionally fragile since the divorce, “living in his own world and constantly longing for friends.”
