Anywhere you turn over the last few months; there have been hundreds of reports of how people who vape continue to fall ill with severe and unexplained lung illnesses. The most recent cases of lung injury have come from patients noticing their symptoms after vaping THC (the psychoactive component in cannabis), nicotine, or a combination of both. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally labeled this injury – EVAL, short for e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. However, the crisis is still leaving doctors baffled about what’s causing EVAL, and what the short and long-term effects of the lung injuries will be. Additionally, the investigation has not identified any specific e-cigarette or vaping product (devices, liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges) or substance that is linked to all illnesses. Here’s the latest on the vaping lung injury crisis and what you need to know.

The Latest on EVAL 

The CDC, as of October 2019, announced over 1604 confirmed or probable cases of lung injury associated with vaping, 34 people have died, the median age of patients is 24 years and ages range from 13 to 75 years (70% being male). Patients continue to report symptoms such as:

• • cough, chest pain, or shortness of breath
  • nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • fatigue, fever, or abdominal pain

Some people have reported their symptoms lasting only a few days, while others claim their symptoms developed over several weeks. Doctors are ruling out the possibility that a lung infection is causing the symptoms – but what is?

What’s Causing The Lung Injury?

What the CDC does know is that patients seem to be recovering from EVAL, but the long-term impacts are still unknown. The biggest concern among clinicians is scarring in the lungs. Every time a person has an inflammatory reaction within his or her lung tissue, irreversible damage is a strong possibility, potentially leading to diseases such as COPD or asthma. According to NPR, doctors are diagnosing EVAL patients with lipoid pneumonia, which means that oils or fats have entered the lungs that should not be there, leading to an extreme inflammatory reaction. Oils are used in vaping cartridges and other delivery devices, so the illness makes sense to doctors, but what does not add up is which substances or chemicals in the vaping products are causing the pulmonary injury. 

The CDC reports that the illnesses seem to be occurring after vaping THC, nicotine, or a combination of both. This concern is leading health officials to issue warnings about contaminated or “black market” cannabis or nicotine ingredients. Many federal officials and clinicians also suggest that instances of EVAL may be tied to an illicit e-cigarette or vaping devices. Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation.

What’s Being Done About Vaping?

According to National Public Radio (NPR), in response to the crisis, several states have announced temporary bans on some or all vaping products, and the current administration is reportedly weighing a federal ban. In addition, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is expanding “National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day,” and this year, they allowed people to drop off electronic vaping devices and cartridges, provided any lithium-ion batteries are removed. The annual event, developed in 2010, lets people anonymously dispose of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications at collection sites across the U.S. With the growing concerns about the health risks of vaping and e-cigarettes, and current EVAL crisis, the DEA started accepting electronic vaping devices and cartridges. “In an effort to support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially amongst America’s youth, the DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances,” officials stated. But what if you can’t get to this event? What do you do with your vaping device?

Disposing of Vaping Devices

If you are concerned about these health risks, the CDC recommends refraining from using e-cigarettes or vaping products and to not buy these products off the street. So what do you do with your devices? NPR reports that “Proper vape disposal involves more than just tossing the device in the recycling bin, waste disposal specialists say, since batteries can end up in landfills and contaminate the environment. Suggestions such as recycling vaping devices through companies such as Home Depot and Best Buy, which offer electronic waste recycling, have been also been circulating on the internet. In addition, “Juul’s website says its devices ‘should be recycled along with other e-waste,’ and Vuse’s website instructs consumers to contact their ‘local waste management officials’ for more information about product disposal in compliance with state and local requirements (NPR).”

Finding Help and Treatment

The CDC does not want people who were using e-cigarettes to quit smoking – to return to smoking cigarettes. If you have recently used an e-cigarette or other vaping products and have symptoms like those reported, the CDC recommends seeing a healthcare provider for help in quitting. Additionally, if you stop vaping, do not go back to smoking marijuana. It’s important to recognize that vaping THC or smoking marijuana is also a national epidemic and that marijuana is the second most used substance in the United States after alcohol. Even though marijuana addiction, known as marijuana use disorder, may not seem as dangerous as addiction to other substances, it’s vital to get professional help. The Kimberly Center provides high-quality, evidence-based addiction treatment for substance use disorders and addiction. Learn more about our services and programs, and find out if our programs are right for you or your loved one, contact us today at 855-452-3683.