National Narcotics Agency Declares Vapes a New Medium for Drug Consumption
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Narcotics Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BNN RI) has declared that electronic cigarettes, or vapes, serving as a gateway for narcotics is an undeniable fact.
"We have found undeniable evidence that vapes have become an effective tool or new medium for consuming narcotics and new psychoactive substances (NPS)," said BNN RI chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto in his address at a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the BNN RI headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Based on BNN's findings, Suyudi asserted that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation aid is an illusion that has not been scientifically proven. In practice, vapes have instead become a new entry point for drug use.
"I wish to emphasise here that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation tool is an illusion that has not been proven effective scientifically. On the contrary, this product has actually gained a new entry point," he said.
Suyudi also explained that the contents of vapes cannot be immediately identified when in use, including the fragrant vapour the devices emit.
"They can use them anywhere, especially since they smell pleasant. So people have no idea that the contents are actually narcotics," he said.
According to Suyudi, electronic cigarettes have become the ideal means to conceal and transform from conventional tools such as bongs used for consuming addictive substances like methamphetamine.
"These are chemical substances, liquids. So vapes are the most suitable device for users, so to speak, to hide behind instead of the conventional tools like bongs," he said.
Suyudi noted that vape contents have frequently been found to contain addictive substances including liquid methamphetamine, etomidate, and other new types of narcotics.
"This is the problem. So it appears that someone is using a vape, it looks like they are smoking an electronic cigarette, but the contents turn out to be liquid methamphetamine. The contents are etomidate, chemical substances classified as narcotics," he explained.
Suyudi explained that vape liquids or e-liquids contain category one and two narcotics comprising nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and a number of addictive substances forming a chemical cocktail.
"From a chemical substance perspective, vape liquid or e-liquid is a chemical cocktail. It contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, vegetable compounds, as well as flavouring agents such as diacetyl, acetyl pyridine, and benzaldehyde, which pose high health risks," he said.
"We have found undeniable evidence that vapes have become an effective tool or new medium for consuming narcotics and new psychoactive substances (NPS)," said BNN RI chief Commissioner General Suyudi Ario Seto in his address at a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) at the BNN RI headquarters in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Based on BNN's findings, Suyudi asserted that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation aid is an illusion that has not been scientifically proven. In practice, vapes have instead become a new entry point for drug use.
"I wish to emphasise here that the narrative of vapes as a smoking cessation tool is an illusion that has not been proven effective scientifically. On the contrary, this product has actually gained a new entry point," he said.
Suyudi also explained that the contents of vapes cannot be immediately identified when in use, including the fragrant vapour the devices emit.
"They can use them anywhere, especially since they smell pleasant. So people have no idea that the contents are actually narcotics," he said.
According to Suyudi, electronic cigarettes have become the ideal means to conceal and transform from conventional tools such as bongs used for consuming addictive substances like methamphetamine.
"These are chemical substances, liquids. So vapes are the most suitable device for users, so to speak, to hide behind instead of the conventional tools like bongs," he said.
Suyudi noted that vape contents have frequently been found to contain addictive substances including liquid methamphetamine, etomidate, and other new types of narcotics.
"This is the problem. So it appears that someone is using a vape, it looks like they are smoking an electronic cigarette, but the contents turn out to be liquid methamphetamine. The contents are etomidate, chemical substances classified as narcotics," he explained.
Suyudi explained that vape liquids or e-liquids contain category one and two narcotics comprising nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, and a number of addictive substances forming a chemical cocktail.
"From a chemical substance perspective, vape liquid or e-liquid is a chemical cocktail. It contains nicotine, propylene glycol, glycerine, vegetable compounds, as well as flavouring agents such as diacetyl, acetyl pyridine, and benzaldehyde, which pose high health risks," he said.