What happened to the THC vaping crisis? The culprit wasn’t an infectious disease, but a poison: THC vaping devices sold on the black market that were filled with oily contaminants that suffocated and burned victims’ lungs once inhaled. More than a year later—and what a year it’s been—Gizmodo decided to take a look back at this crisis.
Full Answer
Why vaping is bad facts?
Vaping is not only bad for lung health, but it also causes problems for the teeth and gums as well. One study conducted in 2018 showed that several e-juices caused bacterial growth on the teeth, which led to users developing cavities.
What are the dangers of vaping?
The interchangeable use of smoking and vaping is most common in people under age 35. They face equal risk of heart attack or stroke than if they lit up exclusively. The takeaway is that there is no ‘best’ method of inhaling nicotine.
How dangerous is vaping?
Medical Dangers of Vaping
- Chemical Composition of the Liquid Products. The pharmacologically active components of vaping products are not...
- Problems with Manufacturing of E-Cigarettes. There is no real regulation of either nicotine-containing electronic...
- Toxicity of Nicotine and THC. It bears noting that when vaping is successful and delivers concentrated nicotine or...
How is vaping bad for your health?
Vaping and smoking have also been associated with:
- Bad breath
- Bone loss
- Gum disease
- Tooth decay
- Tooth loss
Outbreak spreads
The vaping illness outbreak has now spread to 46 states and one territory with public health officials in 10 states reporting deaths.
A ban on flavored e-cigarettes
Advertisements of e-cigarettes with young models, bright colors and fruity flavors have been criticized by health officials, lawmakers and parents for attracting young people to vaping. States, local and international health regulators are taking action.
Juul
The nation’s leading e-cigarette maker, Juul, has come under pressure over the last year for allegedly marketing to underaged kids. But it’s now getting caught up in the public health crisis, even though federal officials say illegal or counterfeit products are likely to blame. Doctors still can’t rule anything out, they say.
Congressional hearings
Lawmakers grilled the CDC, and then the FDA, over two days of hearings this week looking into the vaping crisis.
Philip Morris and Altria
Tobacco giants Philip Morris International and Altria called off merger talks that would have created a $200 billion global behemoth.
Did the issue vanish?
Whatever happened to the vaping epidemic that was plaguing America? Was it not long ago that the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention was claiming America was facing an epidemic because of e-cigarettes and vaping? They even came up with a term for the disease connected to the so-called epidemic that they called “E-Cigarette Or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury” or EVALI for short.
The U.S. Was The Only One Affected
Many people also find it a little bit strange that America was the only country facing a vaping / e-cigarette epidemic. In the UK, vaping is extremely popular, and this issue did not surface. In fact, when it comes to the viewpoint on e-cigarettes, the UK and the US see very differently from one another.
A True Pandemic and the Contradictions of the U.S. Government
The government and offices within it, such as the CDC, are often known for giving out information that contradicts itself. This is exactly the case seen with the so-called vaping epidemic that was plaguing America.
Can you reprint Project CBD?
Copyright, Project CBD. May not be reprint ed without permission.
Is artificial flavoring poisonous?
Many FDA -approved artificial flavors and texturizing agents are poisonous when heated and inhaled.
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.
When will vaping stop?
Though the CDC said it would stop tracking the reporting of vaping-related illness in February 2020, local public health agencies and doctors continue to report their own cases. In June, doctors from California described eight patients who became sick from vaping in April.
Why did the CDC stop tracking vaping cases?
These newer cases have been harder to find in part due to the covid-19 pandemic, since the two conditions can present similar symptoms. The pandemic is also likely one reason why the CDC decided to stop tracking these cases, constrained by limited resources. The situation has even spawned its own fringe conspiracy theory, with some people arguing that the vaping cases last year were actually covid-19 in disguise (no expert or source I spoke to endorsed that idea).
What is vitamin E used for in vaping?
This ingredient was often used as a filler to reduce the amount of THC needed per product or to fool customers into thinking the THC in the product was better quality by making the vaping fluid thicker. Importantly, vitamin E was readily found in illicit vaping products —usually disposable THC cartridges—and these products were clearly responsible ...
How many people died from vaping in 2020?
In the last week of December, only 29 cases were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—a sharp drop off from the over 200 cases reported in a week during September. All told, as of February 2020, at least 2,807 people are known to have had this vaping-related lung illness, and 68 people died.
Is the CDC still warning people to stop vaping?
The CDC Is Still Warning People to Stop Vaping Completely Over Lung Illness Cases —But Why?
Did Oregon pull vitamin E off the market?
By the fall, public health agencies were explicitly warning people to stay away from buying products off the street or from friends, as were vape users and influencers. At least one company that appeared to legally sell vitamin E as a cutting agent in Oregon pulled its product off the market. And there may have been pressure on the manufacturers of illicit devices and cartridges to remove or reduce the vitamin E they used. All of these factors probably contributed to the decline of cases.
Is vaping a healthier alternative to smoking?
The name change was only the latest signal to vaping consumers, people in the industry, and public health experts who see vaping as a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking that the crisis was being used to crack down on the industry without justification.
When did Juul stop selling flavored products?
When Juul pulled all of its flavored products off the shelves in November 2018, bogus options from China began popping up. Juul’s online enforcement team reports more than 300 counterfeit listings for removal per week, or more than 15,000 per year, the company told The Post.
Who asked the two young men he treated if they were using marijuana or nicotine vaporizers?
Mercado said he asked the two young men he treated if they were using marijuana or nicotine vaporizers and “didn’t get a good answer.”
Is there evidence linking flavored products to illnesses?
There is no evidence to this point conclusively linking flavored products to the illnesses.
Can you buy vapes off the street?
Until the CDC is able to sift through the cases and figure out what exactly is causing these illnesses, it has advised everyone to exercise caution when vaping and to never purchase products off the street or from third-party resellers.
Does vitamin E cause respiratory problems?
While a relatively harmless ingredient, vitamin E acetate can cause respiratory issues because of its oil-like properties, the department said.
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.
Did The Issue Vanish?
The U.S. Was The only One Affected
- Many people also find it a little bit strange that America was the only country facing a vaping / e-cigarette epidemic. In the UK, vaping is extremely popular, and this issue did not surface. In fact, when it comes to the viewpoint on e-cigarettes, the UK and the US see very differently from one another. Countless stories covered by outlets such as CNN, BBC, and others touch on this subje…
A True Pandemic and The Contradictions of The U.S. Government
- The government and offices within it, such as the CDC, are often known for giving out information that contradicts itself. This is exactly the case seen with the so-called vaping epidemic that was plaguing America. If vaping cigarettes and cannabis products were so horrible for people, why would the CDC release new recommendations telling those who...
Vitamin E Acetate
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…
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…
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…