“This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries. These findings provide direct evidence of Vitamin E acetate at the primary site of injury within the lungs.”

~ the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

For several months, reports of a mysterious lung sickness linked to electronic cigarette and vaping product use have been coming in from across the country. Victims of the illness now named EVALI have been found in every state except Alaska. As of early November, over 2000 cases of EVALI have been identified, and at least 40 people have died.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified the cause as Vitamin E oil, which is used to thicken vaping fluids, especially those sold on the black market. While Vitamin E oil is safe when taken in capsule form as a nutritional supplement or when used in a skin lotion, inhaling the oil may be harmful.

This thickener was first identified as a potential culprit back in September, and now that suspicion has been confirmed. 29 EVALI patients from 10 different states were tested, and Vitamin E oil was present in every test result.

Symptoms of EVALI

• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath, sometimes to the point of needing a ventilator
• Chest pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Stomach pain

Over half of EVALI patients report daily use of e-cigarettes or vapes.

No Vaping Products are Safe

“CDC continues to recommend that people should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers.”

~ CDC

THC, marijuana’s main psychoactive ingredient, was found in 82% of the test samples, while nicotine was identified in just 62%. So, while the CDC’s overall recommendation is to avoid all vaping products, the findings also reveal that some choices are riskier than other

This explains why the CDC’s more specific warning is to stay away from vapes containing THC, with an even stronger recommendation against buying any such products “off the street”.

Although no particular brand has been singled out, many patients report using one called Dank Vapes. CDC researchers write, “Dank Vapes appears to be the most prominent in a class of largely-counterfeit brands, with common packaging that is easily available online that is used by distributors to market THC-containing cartridges with no obvious centralized production or distribution.”

Some of the identified brands include:

• Air Factory
• California Confidential
• Cereal Carts
• Chronic Carts
• Cookies
• Dabwoods
• Juul
• Kingpen
• Mario Carts
• Moon Rocks
• Mr. Salt-E
• Naked
• Off White
• Salt Nic
• Smart Carts
• Smok
• Solace
• Suorin Drop
• Supreme G
• TKO
• Vuse Alto

Why  Should This Matter to YOU?

Marijuana has already been linked to a number of serious health concerns, including fetal development, bone disease, heart problems, stroke, and impotence. It also triggers or worsens mental illnesses such as ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and schizophrenia.

Now, CDC, a leading public health care authority is expressly recommending against using the particular delivery method of vaping products.
EVALI is a serious and potentially-fatal sickness. The best thing you can do to safeguard your health is to not use marijuana in any form, but especially in vaping products that contain marijuana.

But marijuana is addictive, so if you want to quit vaping THC but find it too hard to do on your own, maybe you need specialized professional help.

if you live in Southern California, Chapman House Behavioral Health Centers can give you the help and support you need. Since 1978, Chapman House has been the top choice in addiction recovery for individuals and families struggling with problematic substance abuse.

For more information about meeting our sobriety goals, contact Chapman House TODAY

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by Albert Fontenot