UPDATED JANUARY 2020:
Based on data from emergency department (ED) visits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that the e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) outbreak began in June 2019. Cases have been declining since a peak in September. Visit the CDC’s website for updated information about the outbreak and the investigation into EVALI causes.
If you need help quitting, call 1-866-TEENLINK or visit www.teenlink.org. You can also download the free smartphone app, 2Morrow Health, to help with quitting vaping. Get the app by visiting www.doh.wa.gov/quit and following the registration prompts to receive an activation code and password.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2019
Vaping has been all over the headlines lately—for the worst reasons. Vaping-associated lung injury is affecting hundreds across the country. Those affected experience coughing, shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and fever, often resulting in hospitalization and—in a few cases—death. To put it simply, it’s serious.
We don’t have all the answers yet, and people are working hard to understand why so many young people are getting so sick. But we know this for sure: To stay safe and healthy, avoid all vapor products and encourage those around you to do the same—this includes products with THC, CBD, nicotine, and flavors.
We also know that any use of THC or nicotine is addictive and can harm brain development for young people. These substances should be avoided in any form.
If you need help quitting, call 1-866-TEENLINK or visit www.teenlink.org. You can also download the free smartphone app, 2Morrow Health, to help with quitting vaping. Get the app by visiting www.doh.wa.gov/quit and following the registration prompts to receive an activation code and password.
ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED APRIL 2018:
There are a few different ways that people consume marijuana. Most people are familiar with the method of smoking marijuana, but less so with vaping (or vaporizing). Vaping is when a person inhales vaporized marijuana concentrate.
Just because it’s seen as an alternative to smoking, it doesn’t mean vaping is safe. Vaping or dabbing marijuana could result in a super high dose, triggering anxiety or paranoia. Recently, the U.S. Army Public Health Center issued a warning to users of e-cigarettes and other vaping products after dozens of troops experienced serious medical issues after vaping products marketed as containing cannabidiol, or CBD, oil.
More research needs to be done on the long-term effects of vaping. However, we do know that the aerosol from e-cigarettes can be harmful. It’s not just “water vapor.” Whether used for marijuana or tobacco, e-cigarettes contain solvents, flavorants, and toxicants in the liquids. These can include nicotine; ultrafine particles; flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which can be found in car exhaust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
It’s also important to note that while some people vape because it’s not as smelly as smoking marijuana, it’s still illegal to use marijuana in any form in public and if you’re under 21, it is always illegal to use marijuana.
Source: Surgeon General’s Report on Ecigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults (Fact Sheet)
