SARABURI: A heartfelt yet troubling incident has gripped the community as a 19-month-old toddler was removed from his family home in Muang district’s tambon Nong Pla Lai due to his alarming exposure to e-cigarettes and kratom juice. Authorities have since taken the young boy into protective custody, now under the watchful care of the province’s Shelter for Children and Families.
This intervention was triggered by a complaint on the popular Sai Mai Tong Rod Facebook page managed by Ekapop Luengprasert, an adviser to the Interior Minister. Concerned neighbors had tipped off the authorities after noticing a series of distressing posts from the boy’s mother on her social media accounts.
Incredibly, the boy’s 17-year-old mother had shared numerous videos showcasing the toddler both consuming kratom juice and indulging in vaping. The child’s apparent dependency on these substances was cause for alarm. According to neighbors, the toddler would fly into tantrums if denied his troubling cravings—a grim testament of addiction at such an innocent age.
The perplexing defense from his parents was that their young son partook in these hazardous substances on his own volition. His 39-year-old grandmother went on to assert that no one forced the child to use e-cigarettes, and claimed that he was given soft drinks instead of kratom juice. However, these claims did little to mitigate the gravity of the situation.
The toddler was swiftly taken to Saraburi Hospital for a thorough medical examination. Aphiwat Wiriyarom, the director of the shelter, confirmed that the boy underwent a CT scan to assess any potential damage to his lungs and respiratory tract as a result of the substances. Further investigations and a strategic management plan are underway, all aimed at determining the safest path forward for the toddler.
In the interim, the child will remain under the shelter’s protection. Aphiwat remarked on the environment the boy was raised in, pointing to frequent drinking parties in the neighborhood as a possible factor making such substances alarmingly accessible to him.
Adding another layer to the case, Saraburi Provincial Station Superintendent Pol Col Suriya Sudkungwan reported that the boy’s father, identified only as Waiyawut, 31, faces legal charges for the illegal importation of an e-cigarette. This underscores broader regulatory concerns and the implications of such hazardous items falling into the wrong hands.
The story of this toddler has alarmed and saddened many, yet it also serves as a stark reminder of the vigilant role society must play in protecting its most vulnerable members. It lays bare the urgent need for awareness, responsible guardianship, and rigorous regulatory measures to ensure that children can grow up in safe and healthy environments. The road ahead for this young boy may be fraught with challenges, but with proper care and diligence, there remains hope for his recovery and well-being.
This is deeply troubling. How could anyone let a 19-month-old baby get addicted to such harmful substances?
Totally agree. It’s pure negligence from the parents. This should never have happened.
It’s beyond negligence. It’s criminal. Those parents should face severe consequences.
Are you kidding me? Who lets a toddler near e-cigarettes and kratom juice?!
Sadly, some people just don’t care about their kids. They’re too wrapped up in their own habits to see the harm they’re causing.
You’re right. It’s sad how some people shouldn’t be parents, yet they are. It’s the innocent ones who suffer.
It’s heartbreaking to read this. I’m glad the authorities stepped in but I hope the parents get some help too.
Help? They need punishment, not help. No excuses for this kind of behavior.
I agree they should face consequences, but a holistic approach might prevent future incidents too. Just punishing without helping them change doesn’t fix the root cause.
This is just crazy! E-cigarettes and kratom juice for a toddler? Are people losing their minds?
Pretty much, Larry. And social media isn’t helping! Posting these things for attention is part of the problem.
Social media has its pros and cons. In this case, at least it helped expose this tragic situation.
It’s hard to fathom how the parents could justify such behavior. No child ‘wants’ to vape or drink kratom juice. Absurd!.
I have young kids and this story terrifies me. Where is the line between discipline and neglect?
Discipline is about teaching right from wrong, not turning a blind eye to harmful behaviors. Huge difference!
True, Linda. I teach my kids boundaries and consequences, but this is just unimaginable to me.
Why isn’t there more regulation around e-cigarettes? They should be banned completely!
Banning isn’t the answer. Education and proper parenting are what’s needed. You can’t legislate away negligence.
Legislation helps, but I see your point. People need to be educated on the dangers too.
This is so sad. I hope the boy gets all the care he needs and the parents learn from this.
Yes, let’s hope for a better future for the child. It’s what’s most important now.
Absolutely. The well-being of the child should come first, above all else.
This is a wakeup call for tighter regulations on e-cigarette sales and kratom. How do these things get into the hands of a toddler?
It’s tragic on so many levels. I hope the community steps up to support this child and prevent future incidents.
What a messed up family. Glad the authorities are taking care of the child now.
Indeed. It’s shocking that it took a social media post to get the authorities involved.
Yep, the power of social media can actually be quite positive sometimes. This situation needed all the attention it got.
This incident highlights how societal norms can fail the most vulnerable. We need a collective approach to fix this.
I’m just glad the kid will be safe now. Hopefully, he will get a chance to live a normal life.
As a parent, I can’t even imagine putting my child through this. My heart goes out to the little boy.
Same here. Being a parent means protecting our kids, not exposing them to dangers.
Compassion and support are needed, but so are stricter laws to prevent this from happening again.
This is absolutely horrifying and unacceptable! What were the parents even thinking?
You can’t just blame the parents. The community and the authorities also have a role to play in preventing such cases.
Yes, everyone has a part in this. Society as a whole needs to be more vigilant.
Exactly, Diana. Raising awareness and being proactive can prevent a lot of these incidents.