Seventy-six poisoning cases linked to exposure to vapes suspected of containing prohibited substances were referred to the National Poison Centre at Universiti Sains Malaysia through the Poison Information Service from 2020 to last year.

Senior pharmacy officer Fadhli Razali said the statistics show a sharp increase, with a significant spike starting in 2022 when 65 percent, or 17 cases, were recorded out of the total vape exposure cases referred that year.