SMU law student creates vaping cessation app to help youth quit habit

A Singapore Management University law student has created a mobile application designed to help young people overcome vaping addiction, drawing inspiration from a troubling incident involving a primary school child. The app was developed after witnessing the case of a Primary 2 boy who faced enforcement action from the Health Sciences Authority for vaping—a scenario that highlighted the growing prevalence of the habit among Singapore's youth.

The application addresses a critical gap in support services available to young people struggling with nicotine dependence. By providing accessible tools and resources tailored for teenagers and children, the app aims to make smoking cessation support more engaging and youth-friendly compared to traditional intervention methods.

The innovation has gained traction within Singapore's legal and social entrepreneurship community. The app was recently named one of five winners of the Access to Justice Community Co-Lab, a programme that recognises solutions addressing legal and social challenges in the region. The recognition underscores growing concern about youth vaping and the need for creative, technology-enabled approaches to public health challenges.

The development of such tools comes as Singapore continues to strengthen its stance against youth nicotine consumption, with authorities focusing on both prevention and support for those already affected by the habit. The app represents an example of how legal professionals and technologists are collaborating to address public health issues through innovation.