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Know!
Special Alert: E-Cigarettes Aren't Safe
E-cigarettes have been causing an epidemic of youth use across the
country for some time now. Despite claims of how “safe” they are by
those selling them, they’re putting people into emergency rooms and
hospitals across the nation. As of August 30th, one person has died and
more than 200 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses have been
reported, although some estimates place the illness total much higher,
even as high as 300. Yesterday, Oregon reported another possible vaping
death after vaping marijuana, according to various media reports. In
one case, doctors medically induced a coma and hooked someone up to a
ventilator.
Times like these make it difficult to keep up with the constantly
changing story. Here, we’ve gathered the latest facts, taken from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug
Administration.
Here’s what we know:
Patients with these illnesses are coughing, have shortness of breath,
and report fatigue. Those symptoms worsened for days or weeks before
the patient was admitted into the hospital. Other symptoms include
fever, chest pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
All of these cases involve e-cigarette use. Many also involve using
marijuana liquids in e-cigarettes. No specific product has been
identified as the culprit.
Federal and state officials are still investigating these diseases to
determine what exactly is happening. The CDC is assisting states, and
Illinois and Wisconsin each have their own investigations.
The CDC recommends refraining from using e-cigarette products if you’re
concerned about these risks. The CDC also recommends calling poison
control at 1-800-222-1222 if you’re concerned about the harmful effects
of e-cigarette use.
Here’s what we don’t know:
While these cases are similar, it isn’t known if there is one common cause. Investigations are ongoing.
It isn’t known what substances were in the e-cigarettes involved in
these cases. There could even be a variety of substances used.
Talk to your kids about the dangers of vaping, especially in light of
this terrible yet teachable moment. On our website, you’ll find
information to talk to your child about e-cigarettes as well as links
to resource centers maintained by the U.S. Surgeon General’s office,
the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and the CDC.
>>> Learn about E-Cigarettes: https://preventionactionalliance.org/learn/about-e-cigarettes/
It’s important to know that this has been a developing story for many
weeks now. More information continues to come out about this trend, and
it’s crucial that we stay informed about it. Information that we know
now may prove to no longer be the case, and more facts may emerge later
that change today’s expert analyses.
>>> CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/
>>> FDA website: https://www.fda.gov/
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