The hidden risks inside drug-laced vapes

A vape may look ordinary, but experts warn its liquid could contain nicotine, psychoactive substances or even synthetic drugs.KUALA LUMPUR: At first glance, the video looked like countless other social media livestreams involving young people and vape devices.Then the behaviour of the two men in the clip began to change. One appeared dazed; the other was barely responsive.Viewers quickly speculated that they had used “piu-piu” or “piao-piao” - street names for a synthetic substance reportedly being mixed into vape liquids.The video, which went viral in May, highlighted an unsettling development in Malaysia’s drug landscape. Illegal substances no longer need to come in recognisable pills, powders or plant material - they can be concealed inside an ordinary-looking vape device and inhaled without those nearby realising what is happening.Selangor police have warned that the effects of piu-piu may be felt after only a few puffs.

Possible consequences include hallucinations, seizures, breathing difficulties, heart complications, addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms.These products are relatively easy to hide and may be sold cheaply through social media, placing them within reach of teenagers and young adults.Unlike cannabis or ketum, piu-piu is not plant-based; the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) describes it as a synthetic substance made from a combination of chemicals and added to vape liquid.Its name is believed to refer to the sensation of floating or drifting experienced by users.Some formulations may also contain fentanyl, according to former deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay. Their hallucinatory effects can leave users looking detached from their surroundings or, as the authorities have described it, in a “zombie-like” state.When danger looks familiarPart of the concern lies in the vape device itself. Often presented as modern, stylish and socially acceptable, for many young people, vaping may seem less threatening than conventional cigarettes or illicit drugs.But this appeal can disguise what's actually inside the liquid.

A cartridge may contain high levels of nicotine, psychoactive substances or synthetic drugs, yet look no different from one containing ordinary vape flavouring.Changing chemical formulations make the contents even harder to identify. This shift has complicated the way families, schools and authorities recogn…