Vaping FAQs

how is the current vaping crisis

by Dr. Mariano Dickinson Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How many people have died from vaping in the US?

Sixty-eight deaths have been confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia (as of February 18, 2020). Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.

Is there an outbreak of lung disease associated with vaping?

Outbreak of Lung Disease Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping. CDC, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state and local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners are investigating a multistate outbreak of lung disease associated with e-cigarette product (devices, liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges) use.

Is vaping harmful to teens?

Vaping e-cigarettes is causing an epidemic of nicotine addiction among teens and is linked to lung disease. Find coverage here about vaping illnesses, hospitalizations and government regulation.

How many people have died from e-cigarettes?

See Public Health Reporting for more information. As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).

How many youth use e-cigarettes in 2020?

Why did the FDA suspend inspections?

How many inspections has the FDA done?

How many warning letters did the FDA issue in 2021?

Why is the FDA investing in research?

When did the FDA start regulating e-cigarettes?

Can you market a product with reduced risk?

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Is vaping a crisis?

Vaping is causing an epidemic of nicotine addiction in teens Tobacco is the leading cause of disease and death in the United States, and its use is entirely preventable. Repeated vaping can lead to the same risk of addiction to nicotine that comes with smoking.

Is vaping a public health crisis?

Teen vaping continues to be a public health crisis. For evidence, look no further than new data released by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on youth e-cigarette use.

What is the biggest concern with vaping?

2: Research suggests vaping is bad for your heart and lungs. It causes you to crave a smoke and suffer withdrawal symptoms if you ignore the craving. Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.

Why is vaping an epidemic?

Nicotine is highly addictive and is responsible for many health-related sequelae. Lack of awareness of nicotine in vaping products by adolescents has been one of the factors that may have fueled the current epidemic. In 2010, the US Surgeon General declared nicotine as addictive as heroin and cocaine.

How many teenagers are vaping?

2022 Findings on Youth E-Cigarette Use 14.1% (2.14 million) of high school students and 3.3% (380,000) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use.

How does vaping affect society?

Vaping can lead children and teenagers to start smoking It can also reduce impulse control for teenagers and even alter their brain development. Studies show that young people who vape regularly are more likely to start smoking than young people who don't vape.

What are 5 risks of vaping?

Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.

What are popcorn lungs?

What is popcorn lung? Popcorn lung (bronchiolitis obliterans) is an uncommon type of lung disease, but it is not cancer. It's caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which blocks the flow of air. A possible link has been suggested between the disease and a chemical called diacetyl.

How do lungs heal from vaping?

However, there are certain lifestyle behaviors you can practice to try and accelerate the rate at which your lungs heal.Drink Lots Of Water. ... Eat Healthy Foods. ... Exercise Regularly. ... Cough. ... Clean Your Living Space. ... Practice Deep Breathing. ... Try Steam Therapy.

Why do kids start vaping?

Young people start smoking or vaping for a variety of reasons; peer pressure, the belief that it relieves stress or looks cool, to lose or control weight, easy access, and role models or family members who use tobacco.

What percentage of people vape?

Key findings. In 2018, 14.9% of adults had ever used an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), and 3.2% were current e-cigarette users. The prevalence of adults who had ever used an e-cigarette and were current users was highest among men, non-Hispanic white adults, and those aged 18–24.

What are the benefits of vape?

Benefits of vaping Vaping can help some people quit smoking. Vaping is usually cheaper than smoking. Vaping is not harmless, but it is much less harmful than smoking. Vaping is less harmful to those around you than smoking, as there's no current evidence that second-hand vapour is dangerous to others.

What does the AMA say about vaping?

The AMA also continues to supports local, state and federal actions to prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco and e-cigarette products that lure young people into addiction. We applaud states and municipalities that have enacted bans on flavored products and encourage other jurisdictions to follow suit.

What are 5 risks of vaping?

Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.

How common is vaping?

Teens and young adults. Gallup says that 20% of people age 18 to 29 vape, compared to 9% of people age 30 to 49, 7% of people age 50 to 64, and less than 0.5% of people older than 65. And, according to the Truth Initiative, 15- to 17-year-olds are 16 times more likely to vape than 25- to 34-year-olds.

20 Vaping Statistics & Facts to Learn in 2022 - Modern Gentlemen

Marija Kovachevska. Marija is a content writer, biochemist, and communications associate for several nonprofit organizations. After earning her bachelor’s, she worked as a scientific writer before engaging in the world of nonprofits—first as an English translator and an activist, and later, as head of communications.

End the Youth Vaping Epidemic | American Lung Association

Research – Youth Vaping and Lung Health. The American Lung Association has committed $2 million toward research to understand the alarming effects of vaping on kids and find a solution to vaping related lung injury.

The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents - PMC - PubMed Central (PMC)

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has recently risen to the forefront of medical discussions across the country. A significant increase in e-cigarette use by adolescents has been observed over the last decade. This article discusses the targeting ...

Teens using vaping devices in record numbers | National Institutes of ...

America’s teens report a dramatic increase in their use of vaping devices in just a single year, with 37.3 percent of 12th graders reporting “any vaping” in the past 12 months, compared to just 27.8 percent in 2017.

How many youth use e-cigarettes in 2020?

While we are seeing some progress in youth prevalence rates, the fact that there are still 3.6 million youth e-cigarettes users in 2020 is deeply concerning and underscores the critical need for FDA to address youth use of e-cigarettes and other ENDS.

Why did the FDA suspend inspections?

Suspending inspections was necessary to protect the health and safety of FDA’s staff and contractors (both adults and youth) who participate in the inspections. However, FDA’s monitoring and surveillance of websites, publications, and social media continued without interruption during that time.

How many inspections has the FDA done?

Since 2010, FDA has conducted more than 900 inspections of manufacturing establishments, some of which manufacture ENDS products (including e-liquids). Since the Deeming rule took effect on August 8, 2016, FDA has conducted more than 2,500 vape shop inspections.

How many warning letters did the FDA issue in 2021?

As of May 31, 2021, FDA had issued more than 120 warning letters to firms selling or distributing unauthorized ENDS and that did not submit premarket applications by the September 9 deadline. Collectively these companies have listed a combined total of over 1,280,000 products with FDA.

Why is the FDA investing in research?

FDA is investing in regulatory science research to learn more about how ENDS products are being used and their health impacts. Research findings help inform the Agency’s regulatory decision-making.

When did the FDA start regulating e-cigarettes?

It is important to note FDA’s initial efforts to regulate e-cigarettes began more than a decade ago. Between 2008 and 2010, FDA attempted to regulate e-cigarettes as unapproved drug/device combination products. FDA’s action was challenged and ultimately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that while FDA could choose to regulate e-cigarettes and other products “made or derived from tobacco” under its new tobacco authorities, it could not regulate these products under FDA’s drug and device authority unless they were marketed for therapeutic purposes. 1

Can you market a product with reduced risk?

Marketing products with direct or implied claims of reduced risk only if FDA confirms that scientific evidence supports the claim and determines that providing a marketing authorization for the product will, among other things, benefit the health of the population as a whole.

Can you reprint Project CBD?

Copyright, Project CBD. May not be reprint ed without permission.

Does vaping kill the lungs?

But the CDC stopped tracking vaping-related incidents shortly after the onset of the COVID -19 pandemic. Medical scientists turned their attention to the highly infectious coronavirus, which also kills by damaging the lungs – and does so in ways that aren’t easy to distinguish from the telltale signs of vaping.

Is there cannabinoid in vape oil?

University of Mississippi scientists confirmed the presence of synthetic cannabinoid adulterants in illicit vape oil cartridges.

What are the risks of vaping?

The Vaping Crisis – Updates in EVALI 1 While there is still lacking research, the adverse effects of using e-cigarettes include more than just the risks of nicotine. Some of the additional risks include re-normalizing smoking behavior in youths, causing injury from device malfunction, and unknowingly inhaling potentially toxic chemicals. 2 The E‐cigarette or vaping product use‐associated lung injury (EVALI) health crisis in the Fall 2019 was likely due to an additive (Vitamin E acetate) in e-cigarettes involving THC. 3 Healthcare providers should recommend that patients who use e-cigs avoid THC containing products due to the potential association with EVALI. 4 The USPSTF does not recommend the use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool due to a lack of evidence.

What are the symptoms of vaping?

Presentation consists most often of respiratory symptoms, including shortness of breath and cough, and can be accompanied by common GI symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (Hollingsworth, 2020). There will also be a positive history of vaping in the last 90 days, lung opacities on chest imaging, and negative testing for other common causes ...

How long does vaping last?

There will also be a positive history of vaping in the last 90 days, lung opacities on chest imaging, and negative testing for other common causes (Hollingsworth, 2020). Progression to respiratory distress/failure is common, and about 95% of patients of EVALI cases needed hospitalization (Hollingsworth, 2020).

How many people use e-cigarettes in 2020?

The physical use of the device can cause potential burns/injuries from malfunctioning or exploding (Uptodate, 2020). The CDC found that in 2020, 3.6 million U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days (CDC, September 2020). Youths are especially at risk for nicotine dependence given their developing brains.

What is an e-cigarette?

Known in colloquial terms as “ vapes”, “vape pens”, or “e-cigs”, electronic cigarettes refer to electronic, handheld devices that heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, to produce an aerosol which the user may inhale (Rigotti & Kalkhoran, 2020). These electronic nicotine delivery devices were first commercialized by a Chinese inventor in 2003 ...

Is e-cigarette smoke toxic?

To add to this variability, many manufactured e-cigarettes contain a number of chemical substances that can be potentially toxic (CDC, September 2020). This danger was made apparent in the fall of 2019 when there was a sharp, sudden rise of emergency department visits related to e-cigarette or vaping products (CDC, 2020).

Can vaping be a gateway effect?

Some speculate there may be a “gateway effect”, where e-ci garettes could lead to smoking conventional cigarettes (Rigotti & Kalkhoran, 2020). The popularity of vaping products among the youths may be renormalizing smoking behavior and reverse the negative associations attributed to conventional smoking (Rigotti & Kalkhoran, 2020).

When will vaping peak?

Emergency department (ED) visits related to e-cigarette, or vaping, products continue to decline, after sharply increasing in August 2019 and peaking in September.

When is the next vaping hospital admission?

Dates of symptom onset and hospital admission for patients with lung injury associated with e-cigarette use, or vaping — United States, March 31, 2019–February 15, 2020. Numbers do not sum to 2,807 due to missing admission dates.

How many deaths from evali in 2020?

As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Sixty-eight deaths have been confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia (as of February 18, 2020).

What is an e-cigarette?

Using an e-cigarette is commonly called vaping. E-cigarettes work by heating a liquid to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs.

When did the CDC stop collecting data?

Due to the subsequent identification of the primary cause of EVALI, and the considerable decline in EVALI cases and deaths since a peak in September 2019, CDC stopped collecting these data from states as of February 2020.

How to contact CDC about e-cigarettes?

If you have questions about CDC’s investigation into the lung injuries associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, contact CDC-INFO or call 1-800-232-4636.

Where to report evali?

CDC encourages clinicians to continue to report possible cases of EVALI to their local or state health department for further investigation.

How many people died from vaping in 2020?

Those direct health harms include a dramatic rise in acute lung injuries associated with vaping, known as EVALI. It’s unclear what is causing the condition, but the common denominator is e-cigarette use. Across the United States, more than 2,660 cases of EVALI hospitalization or deaths were reported to the CDC, as of Jan. 14, 2020. Sixty deaths related to EVALI were confirmed in 27 states and the District of Columbia during the same time. “These are lung injuries that look like the person worked in a chemical plant for years,” says Dr. Jenssen.

What is the danger of vaping?

Vaping exposes children and teens to harmful metals and toxic chemicals found in e-cigarettes.

How many high schoolers are vaping?

The 2019 survey shows the rate of vaping among high school and middle school students continues to rise. With more than 1 in 4 high schoolers and 1 in 10 middle schoolers reporting vaping use, the need to educate families about the risks of vaping is critical.

What are the metals in e-cigarettes?

On top of that, recent research on actual e-cigarette users has shown that they are taking in heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead, as well as chemicals known to cause cancer. Some of that is coming from the flavorings and the heating devices, and some is from the tobacco from which the liquids are made.

Is vaping a public health crisis?

Teen Vaping Is a Public Health Crisis: What You Need to Know . Vaping among preteens and teens has reached a crisis point, according to a 2019 survey, and it threatens to undo years of public health efforts that had led to a decline in nicotine use. Parents should be concerned because: Vaping increases the risk of teens developing an addiction ...

Is vaping a good alternative to smoking?

Myth: Vaping is a “healthier” alternative to smoking. Fact: There is no evidence that supports the claim that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking. These products are not regulated by the FDA and do not disclose their ingredients. Myth: Vapes don’t contain nicotine.

Is vaping dangerous?

Even more dangerous: Vaping products are designed to appeal to young people — they come in flavors like cotton candy and sour gummy worms, and with devices styled to appeal to tech-savvy teens.

How many cases of lung injury from vaping?

October 25, 2019. According to the October 24 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1,604 cases of severe lung injury associated with the use of vaping products have now been reported since cases first started appearing this summer. They’ve been reported in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Why is the flavored e-cigarette ban being blocked?

But that ban has been temporarily blocked in the courts in response to a challenge from the vaping industry. In Oregon, Gov. Kathleen Brown (D) ordered a six-month ban on all ...

Is vaping dangerous?

There’s no public health crisis evident, but the anti-smoking crowd is trying to misinform the public, and they’ve succeeded. Polls now show over 50 percent believe vaping is as dangerous as smoking. They’ve succeeded in panicking the public and misinforming it about the advantage of vaping over smoking,” he argued.

Is vaping safer than smoking?

There is a concerted campaign by public health officials, led by the FDA, the CDC, and the California Department of Public Health, trying to demonize vaping in general, even though there’s strong evidence that vaping, in general, is much safer than smoking, for all sorts of obvious reasons,” said Gieringer.

Can you vape in Michigan?

Medical marijuana patients can still vape, though. In Michigan, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) used emergency administrative regulatory powers to make Michigan the first state to announce a ban on flavored nicotine products. “As governor, my No. 1 priority is keeping our kids safe,” Whitmer said in a statement.

Is there a public health emergency in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker (R) last month declared a public health emergency and banned all vaping products and devices. “The use of e-cigarettes and marijuana vaping products is exploding, and we are seeing reports of serious lung illnesses, particularly in our young people,” Baker said as he announced the ban.

Can you smoke menthol in vapes?

The FDA could ban menthol cigarettes and smokers would go to vapes, which is a public health benefit.”. Amidst all the concern about THC vaping, Gieringer had some simple advice for pot vapers: “Don’t use underground products,” he suggested. “There are also herbal vaporizers with no additives, just pot.

Why is it important to start a vaping program with informational letters?

They started with informational letters to parents—a simple but important step because many parents did not know about the prevalence of vaping, were not talking to their children about vaping, or did not know the most effective ways to do so.

What happens if you get caught with a vape pen?

In addition to suspension, students face a possible felony charge if the liquid in the vape pen includes a banned substance like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an ingredient in cannabis.

How long does it take to vape a cigarette?

Another thing that has health and addiction researchers worried is that a significant number of teenagers who start vaping—30 percent according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse—progress to traditional cigarettes within six months.

What percentage of teens believe e-cigarettes contain flavoring?

But many teens are not aware of the hazards of vaping. Sixty-six percent of teens believe their e-cigarettes contain just flavoring, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

What is a vaporizer pen?

Vaporizer pens and other sleek electronic devices convert nicotine-infused liquids to water vapor that can be inhaled.

Is vaping tolerated in schools?

It’s a tricky balance for school districts as they weigh sending a strong message to students that vaping and nicotine use will not be tolerated on campus, while also recognizing that students need help to understand the potential health consequences and available treatment options if they become addicted.

Is nicotine more concentrated in e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes?

The nicotine itself is much more concentrated in e-cigarettes than traditional ones . “Nicotine will actually alter the structure of a developing brain, and we have no idea what that will do in the long run,” said Robert Klesges, a professor at the University of Virginia Cancer Center.

How many youth use e-cigarettes in 2020?

While we are seeing some progress in youth prevalence rates, the fact that there are still 3.6 million youth e-cigarettes users in 2020 is deeply concerning and underscores the critical need for FDA to address youth use of e-cigarettes and other ENDS.

Why did the FDA suspend inspections?

Suspending inspections was necessary to protect the health and safety of FDA’s staff and contractors (both adults and youth) who participate in the inspections. However, FDA’s monitoring and surveillance of websites, publications, and social media continued without interruption during that time.

How many inspections has the FDA done?

Since 2010, FDA has conducted more than 900 inspections of manufacturing establishments, some of which manufacture ENDS products (including e-liquids). Since the Deeming rule took effect on August 8, 2016, FDA has conducted more than 2,500 vape shop inspections.

How many warning letters did the FDA issue in 2021?

As of May 31, 2021, FDA had issued more than 120 warning letters to firms selling or distributing unauthorized ENDS and that did not submit premarket applications by the September 9 deadline. Collectively these companies have listed a combined total of over 1,280,000 products with FDA.

Why is the FDA investing in research?

FDA is investing in regulatory science research to learn more about how ENDS products are being used and their health impacts. Research findings help inform the Agency’s regulatory decision-making.

When did the FDA start regulating e-cigarettes?

It is important to note FDA’s initial efforts to regulate e-cigarettes began more than a decade ago. Between 2008 and 2010, FDA attempted to regulate e-cigarettes as unapproved drug/device combination products. FDA’s action was challenged and ultimately, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that while FDA could choose to regulate e-cigarettes and other products “made or derived from tobacco” under its new tobacco authorities, it could not regulate these products under FDA’s drug and device authority unless they were marketed for therapeutic purposes. 1

Can you market a product with reduced risk?

Marketing products with direct or implied claims of reduced risk only if FDA confirms that scientific evidence supports the claim and determines that providing a marketing authorization for the product will, among other things, benefit the health of the population as a whole.

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Introduction

  • Good morning, Chairman Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member Cloud, and Members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA or the Agency) efforts to address youth use of electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS, which include e-cigarettes. I am Janet Woodcock, Acting FDA Comm...
See more on fda.gov

Background

  • Let me start with some information on our tobacco regulatory authorities and our recent regulatory efforts regarding ENDS and e-cigarettes. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Each year, more than 480,000 people in the United States die prematurely from diseases caused by cigarette smoking and exposure to toba…
See more on fda.gov

Regulatory Requirements For Ends Products

  • When the Deeming rule took effect in August 2016, many of the regulatory and legal requirements that had been in place for manufacturers of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigarette tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco since 2009, as well as several new requirements specific to deemed products, became applicable to manufacturers of e-cigarettes and other ENDS products. These i…
See more on fda.gov

Data on Youth Use of E-Cigarettes

  • FDA collaborates with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to administer the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) to middle and high school students each year. The survey provides important data that allow us to understand current youth tobacco product use in a larger historical context. NYTS data from 2018 and 2019 showed disturbing increases in the use of e-c…
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FDA’s Actions to Address Youth Use of Ends Products

  • Protecting our nation’s youth from the dangers of tobacco products is among the Agency’s most important responsibilities, and we are taking aggressive steps to make sure tobacco products are not being marketed or sold to kids. Our work to protect youth from tobacco products is comprehensive and includes compliance and enforcement, premarket review, public education, …
See more on fda.gov

Conclusion

  • Thank you again for the opportunity to testify about FDA’s comprehensive efforts to regulate ENDS, including our actions to prevent youth access to, and use of, these products. The efforts described here are just a part of the important work FDA and the Administration are undertaking to protect children and youth from the harms of tobacco products. We still have much to accom…
See more on fda.gov

Vitamin E Acetate

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We know that a voracious coronavirus can induce a cytokine storm. But what do we actually know about vitamin E acetate and vaping? According to the CDC: “Vitamin E acetate is strongly linked to the EVALI outbreak. Vitamin E acetate has been found in [vape] product samples tested by FDA and state laboratories and in patie…
See more on projectcbd.org

Vape Oil Additives

  • Project CBD has been beating the drum about potential hazards of vape oil additives for several years. Thinning agents, such as propylene glycol and polyethylene glycol, and all manner of flavoring additives (staples of the ultra-processed food industry) are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe for oral consumption. But many of these FDA-authorized text…
See more on projectcbd.org

Synthetic Cannabinoids

  • A recent study by University of Mississippi scientists in the Journal of Dietary Supplements confirmed the presence of synthetic cannabinoid adulterants in illicit vape oil cartridges. The Mississippi investigators analyzed the content of 25 commercially available hemp-derived vape oil products. Of these, thirteen products contained less than 50 percent of the amount of cannabidi…
See more on projectcbd.org

Unregulated Markets

  • Vaping is a convenient, discreet, fast-acting, and easy-to-titrate method of consuming cannabis. Fortunately there are good quality vape options for consumers who live in states where cannabis is legal for adult use. But the pickings are slimmer and riskier in “CBD-only” states, where whole plant cannabis oil extracts are not yet available through regulated channels. Vitamin E acetate i…
See more on projectcbd.org

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