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Tag: vaping-related illnesses

  • American Medical Association Calls For Ban On Vaping Products, E-Cigs

    American Medical Association Calls For Ban On Vaping Products, E-Cigs

    The AMA’s full-court press on vaping comes as a wave of illnesses continue to afflict vape users across the country.

    The American Medical Association has gone on the record against vaping and are calling for a total ban of all vaping products and e-cigarettes that are unapproved by the FDA to be used as “cessation tools.”

    On Monday, the organization published a press release announcing the call for a ban as well as new vaping-related policies.

    The new policies include:

    • Urgently advocate for regulatory, legislative, and/or legal action at the federal and/or state levels to ban the sale and distribution of all e-cigarette and vaping products, with the exception of those approved by the FDA for tobacco cessation purposes and made available by prescription only;
    • Advocate for research funding to study the safety and effectiveness of e-cigarette and vaping products for tobacco cessation purposes;
    • Call for immediate and thorough study of the use of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment strategies for tobacco use disorder and nicotine dependence resulting from the use of non-combustible and combustible tobacco products in populations under the age of 18;
    • Actively collaborate with health care professionals, particularly pharmacists and other health care team members, to persuade retail pharmacies to immediately cease sales of tobacco products;
    • Advocate for diagnostic codes for e-cigarette and vaping associated illnesses, including pulmonary toxicity.

    “The recent lung illness outbreak has alarmed physicians and the broader public health community and shined a light on the fact that we have very little evidence about the short- and long-term health consequences of e-cigarettes and vaping products,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. “It’s simple – we must keep nicotine products out of the hands of young people and that’s why we are calling for an immediate ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products from the market. With the number of young people using e-cigarettes spiking it is not only critical that there is research into nicotine addiction treatments for this population, but it is imperative that we continue efforts to prevent youth from ever using nicotine.”

    The AMA’s full-court press on vaping comes as a wave of illnesses continue to afflict vape users across the country. The CDC announced in early November that vitamine e oil acetate has been found in a high number of  e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) cases. 

    Here is the CDC’s Latest Outbreak Information on vaping-related illnesses and deaths:

    • As of November 13, 2019, 2,172* cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) have been reported to CDC from 49 states (all except Alaska), the District of Columbia, and 2 U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).
    • Forty-two deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and the District of Columbia (as of November 13, 2019):
    • Alabama, California (4), Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia (3), Illinois (4), Indiana (4), Kansas (2), Massachusetts (2), Michigan, Minnesota (3), Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon (2), Pennsylvania, Tennessee (2), Texas, Utah, and Virginia
    • The median age of deceased patients was 52 years and ranged from 17 to 75 years (as of November 13, 2019).
    • CDC continues to work closely with FDA, states, public health partners, and clinicians on this investigation. 

    Youth Vaping Epidemic

    There is another vaping-related epidemic wreaking havoc across the country and it is affecting teens and adolescents at worrisome rates. Around 2.1 million adolescents were using e-cigarettes in 2017 alone. E-cigarette company Juul has been accused of creating the youth vaping epidemic by deceptively marketing their products to underage individuals. Juul denies these allegations.

    Government officials have reportedly been meeting behind the scenes to discuss new regulations, potential bans on vaping products, specifically flavored ones. This week Trump is set to meet with the vaping industry executives and public health advocates as he decides whether or not to ban flavoring products. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Vaping Deaths Reach New High; Officials Still In The Dark

    Vaping Deaths Reach New High; Officials Still In The Dark

    Two more deaths and 163 new cases of vaping-related lung illnesses were reported this week.

    On Thursday, November 7, the CDC released the Latest Outbreak Information report for vaping-related illnesses and fatalities and the news was grim.

    With an additional 163 new cases reported this week, there are now 2,051 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) in the US. California, Texas and Illinois have the highest number of reported cases while Alaska is the only state without a single reported case. 

    Vaping Deaths Rise Again

    The CDC update also revealed that there have been 39 EVALI deaths—up from 37 deaths last week. The average age of the deceased was 53 and ranged from 17 to 75.

    Officials remain unsure of the exact cause of EVALI though they speculate there may be multiple factors involved. 

    “The only commonality among all cases is that patients report the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products,” the CDC noted. “No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date; and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak. Many different substances and product sources are still under investigation.”

    Statewide Bans

    A number of states have taken action against vaping in 2019. In September, Massachusetts issued a temporary ban against the sale of vaping products in a bid to stave off mounting cases of EVALI. The ban is set to last for four months but due to a recent ruling by a Superior Court Judge, the state will not be able to prohibit medical marijuana users from vaping THC, according to NPR.

    Vaping has also been in the spotlight due to its rise in underage users. Teen vaping has become a public health issue as e-cig companies like Juul have been hit hard by allegations that they’re marketing their flavored products to underage consumers.

    The Trump administration is reportedly finalizing plans to ban the sale of flavored vape products with the exception of mint and tobacco-flavors. Mint, according to a new study by the National Institutes on Health, is a favorite flavor among underage vapers. 

    “These findings underscore why the Trump Administration must stand strong and implement its plan to clear the market of all flavored e-cigarettes,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • San Diego Cracks Down On Marijuana Extraction Labs, Vaping

    San Diego Cracks Down On Marijuana Extraction Labs, Vaping

    “It’s a public health crisis,” says the local DEA.

    Nearly 1,900 people across the country have been affected by mysterious vaping-related illnesses. In San Diego alone, 31 people have been hospitalized for vaping-related illnesses in the past couple months prompting local law enforcement to publicly speak out against THC vaping products. 

    “It’s a public health crisis,” Colin Ruane, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, DEA San Diego Division, said during a press conference last Friday. “We’re trying to get on top of it.”

    Raiding Illegal Labs

    According to the San Diego Tribune, the DEA has spent the past year raiding 30 marijuana extraction labs that were operating out of homes and warehouses in the area. Over a six-week period starting in early May, officials raided seven highly profitable (explosion prone) labs.

    “We know there is no regulation of the production of the cartridges, there is no quality control and they may be filled with contaminates people don’t know about,” Ruane said.

    NBC7 spoke with a local dispensary owner to get their perspective on product safety.

    Breton Peace, who co-owns the Mission Hills-based cannabis boutique March and Ash, stood behind his boutique’s products.

    “Anything we put on our shelves, we feel, is safe. Now, to say that there is no risk is just false and that’s not doing a service to the community, or your customers or your business in the long term,” he said.

    Peace says that sales of vape products have dropped by 20% since news of the vaping-related illnesses and deaths broke a couple months ago.

    Another dispensary owner believes that the blame should be cast on black market THC vapes, not all vapes. “The CDC has said to people not to vape. But that doesn’t take into account that this … is a black market THC problem,” Division Vaper owner Paul Bates told OPB back in September. “And attempting to bootstrap into a negative opinion of e-cigarettes, seems a bit dishonest to me.” 

    Flavored Vape Ban Coming Soon

    Every Thursday the CDC releases the latest outbreak information surrounding the vaping health crisis. As of October 29, there have been 1,888 reported cases of what the CDC is referring to as EVALI, or e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury. There have been 37 reported deaths linked to vaping across 24 states. The FDA and the CDC remain unsure of the root cause of the vaping-related illnesses and deaths.

    Axios reports that the Trump administration is expected to announce its plans to ban all flavored vape products except menthol and tobacco this week. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Can Vaping Damper Taste Buds?

    Can Vaping Damper Taste Buds?

    Medical experts say there are a couple factors that can contribute to the loss of the sense of taste among vape users.

    Among the potentially-deadly consequences of vaping there is another affect that makes life a little less sweat: losing the ability to taste. 

    According to Insider, many people who use vapes regularly report that they can’t taste as well as they could before they started using.  Dr. Erich Voigt, New York University Langone Health clinical associate professor of otolaryngology, said that this is an often unrecognized consequence of vaping. 

    Voigt said losing the sensation of taste “isn’t something people come into a specialist’s office to fix because it’s a more mild symptom and they deal on their own.”

    What Contributes To The Loss Of Taste For Vapers?

    Voigt said that there are two factors that can contribute to the loss of the sense of taste among vape users. The solvents that are used in both nicotine and cannabis vape cartridges can coat the tongue with residue. That makes it harder for your taste buds to connect with food that you’re eating, so you experience much less sensation. 

    In addition, vape chemicals affect the nasal passages, which are actually very important for experiencing taste. 

    “We need sense of smell to have a complex enjoyment of taste, so if the nose is congested, it brings sense of taste down,” Voigt said. 

    Vape Tongue

    However, unlike other, more long-term consequences of vaping, so-called “vape tongue” can be reversed, Voigt said. Most people will see their sense of taste return to normal within days or weeks of quitting vapes. 

    There hasn’t been much research into how vaping affects taste. However, research has indicated that vaping can affect oral health overall. One 2016 study concluded that vaping can lead to “compromised oral health.”

    Another study found that vaping can change the molecular structure of tissues in the mouth, which could have serious health consequences, including increasing the risk for cancer. 

    “Molecular pathway and functional network analyses revealed that ‘cancer’ was the top disease associated with the deregulated genes in both e-cig users and smokers,” the study authors wrote. “We observed deregulation of critically important genes and associated molecular pathways in the oral epithelium of vapers that bears both resemblances and differences with that of smokers. Our findings have significant implications for public health and tobacco regulatory science.”

    Vaping-Related Illnesses

    People are becoming more cautious than ever about their vape use, after hundreds of people around the country have become sick with vaping-related illnesses. Voigt said that people need to realize that sensory and oral affects of vaping are dangerous as well. 

    He said, ”My gut instinct is there will be long-term health consequences with continued use of vaping.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Florida High School Bans Bathroom Breaks Over Vaping Concerns 

    Florida High School Bans Bathroom Breaks Over Vaping Concerns 

    The school’s principal says that students have been taken to the emergency room “on a weekly basis” as a result of vaping.

    Students at a high school in Florida’s Palm Beach County will no longer be able to take bathroom breaks during class, allegedly due to what High Times described as “widespread e-cigarette use.”

    Dr. Colleen Iannitti informed her students at Jupiter High School during its daily video announcements that use of the bathroom at school would be limited to the six minutes allowed for students to travel between class periods.

    Dr. Iannitti claimed that students have been found vaping in the bathroom since the start of the school year, which prompted the ban, which was been met with a mixed response from parents.

    Emergency Room Visits Because Of Vaping

    In the video, Dr. Iannitti explained that the bathroom ban was due to students “going to the bathrooms so [they] can meet up with [their] friends and smoke and vape and do all those kinds of things that [they] shouldn’t be doing in the bathroom.”

    Iannitti also claimed in the video that students have been taken to hospital emergency rooms “on a weekly basis” as a result of vaping.

    WPTV in Palm Beach spoke to the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, which stated that they had responded to 10 calls at Jupiter High for “a variety of incidents,” and that eight people had been taken to hospitals.

    There Are Bathroom Breaks For Emergencies…With An Escort

    Under the new rules, students at Jupiter would only be permitted free access to school bathrooms during the six minutes allotted for them between classes. Teachers would not give students’ permission to use the bathroom during class, except in the case of an emergency, for which the student would be escorted to the bathroom by an assistant principal.

    Iannitti also added that she would consider lifting the new restrictions, but only if students could abide by the rules “for the next few weeks” after which she would “see if we can get students to stop vaping in our bathroom[s].”

    According to WPTV, the decision has generated some concern among parents of students at Jupiter High. “I understand the concern from the school’s point of view,” said parent Jeff Glassgold. “I just don’t know if it’s the most efficient or effective privacy matter as far as having someone follow you around when you use the restroom.”

    Coverage from High Times also noted that for some students – especially those with disabilities or identify as transgender, and who may already have anxiety regarding bathroom use – the new rules may seem more restrictive and even punitive.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Former Juul Exec Accuses Company Of Selling Contaminated Vape Liquid Refills

    Former Juul Exec Accuses Company Of Selling Contaminated Vape Liquid Refills

    According to the suit, 250,000 tainted contaminated vape liquid refills, which contained a million vape pods, were shipped to retailers last March.

    A lawsuit filed by Siddharth Breja, Juul’s former senior vice president of global finance, alleges that the e-cigarette company knowingly sold contaminated vape liquid refills to customers and that he was fired when he expressed concern about the harm this could cause to the public.

    Contaminated Vape Liquid Refills

    According to the suit, 250,000 tainted “Mint Refill Kits,” which contained a million individual vape pods, were shipped to retailers in March 2019. When Juul discovered the issue, the company decided not to issue a recall or warn customers of the potential danger.

    March was around the time that cases of mysterious lung injuries that seemed to be connected to vaping began to appear across the US. So far, the data suggests that the majority of these cases are connected to black market THC oil products rather than nicotine-based products such as the ones sold by Juul.

    However, the timing for the industry-dominant company couldn’t be worse. It was also around the time that reports of young people having seizures after using Juul products cropped up.

    “Half Our Customers Are Drunk And Vaping Like Mo-Fo’s”

    According to Breja, the actions (or lack thereof) by Juul were taken out of greed in a toxic work environment that was all about profits. He says that when he expressed concern about the company selling expired or nearly expired products, ex-CEO Kevin Burns did not show much respect or compassion for his customers.

    “Half our customers are drunk and vaping like mo-fo’s,” Burns stated according to the suit, “who the f**k is going to notice the quality of our pods.”

    Burns, who stepped down in September, is also accused of frequently berating his employees, such as when the company’s decision to remove their fruity flavors from retail shelves led to a supply shortage.

    Juul released a statement on Wednesday (Sept. 25) saying that it will not fight a federal ban on flavored vaping products and that it will stop advertising its products immediately. In addition, CEO Kevin Burns is stepping down and will be replaced by K.C. Crosthwaite, former chief growth officer at Altria Group Inc.

    In the statement, the company said that it has already taken steps to combat underage use of its products:

    “JUUL Labs has strongly advocated for Tobacco 21 (T21) laws, stopped the sale of non-tobacco and non-menthol-based flavored JUULpods to all of its traditional retail store partners, enhanced its online age verification, discontinued its U.S.-based Facebook and Instagram accounts and works to remove inappropriate social media content generated by others on those platforms. The company also intensified efforts to combat illegal and potentially dangerous counterfeit and compatible products. Most recently, JUUL Labs started deploying technology at retail stores that automatically restricts the sale of JUUL products until a government-issued ID is electronically scanned to verify age and ID validity, exceeding the standards in place for other tobacco products and alcohol.”

    “You need to have an IQ of 5 to know that when customers don’t find mango they buy mint,” he said to the supply-chain team.

    Breja is suing Juul for wrongful termination and retaliating against whistleblowing, among other charges. The suit was filed on Tuesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

    A Juul spokesperson provided a statement denying the allegations to Ars Technica.

    “Mr. Breja’s claims are baseless,” it reads. “He was terminated in March 2019 because he failed to demonstrate the leadership qualities needed in his role. The allegations concerning safety issues with Juul products are equally meritless, and we already investigated the underlying manufacturing issue and determined the product met all applicable specifications.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Cannabis Company Raided Over Illegal Vape Cartridge Allegations

    Cannabis Company Raided Over Illegal Vape Cartridge Allegations

    Kushy Punch was served with a search warrant after a police investigation turned up unauthorized marijuana products at a dispensary.

    California state and law enforcement officials raided a factory owned by a manufacturer of cannabis products after allegations surfaced that the company was making illegal vape products.

    Kushy Punch, which makes edibles, tinctures and vape cartridges, was served with a search warrant at one of its two Southern California-based manufacturing facilities after a police investigation turned up unauthorized marijuana products at a dispensary.

    Expired Batteries

    The products were linked back to Kushy, where the same disposable vape cartridges, which contained expired batteries, were found during the search; legal counsel for the company said that the items were intended to be destroyed, and intends to work closely with state officials to product customers.

    The news of the search warrant at Kushy raised concerns over the wave of health problems linked to vaping marijuana products that have sickened more than 1,500 individuals across the United States and claimed the lives of at least 30 people.

    As both the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration have noted, no single substance or product has been shown to be the direct cause for the illnesses, but investigations have found that some unlicensed sources have produced “bootleg” vaping cartridges that have contained pesticides, heavy metals and vitamin E acetate, all of which can cause serious respiratory problems.

    Cannabis Safety Team Conducts Investigation, Finds “Discrepancies”

    In the case of Kushy, the California Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) conducted an investigation into reports that the company was manufacturing illegal vape cartridges and edibles and distributing them to dispensaries. The bureau’s Cannabis Safety Team then conducted an inspection of a dispensary in Hollister, where Kushy products had been on sale until management pulled them over concerns about the investigation.

    Police from Hollister and the safety team reviewed testing paperwork provided by Kushy and found what were described on San Benito as “discrepancies” between the test results and Kushy’s packaging. This sent the BCC and the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Cannabis Enforcement Unit to Kushy’s factory in Canoga Park, California, where a search warrant led to the seizure of approximately $21 million in illegal cannabis products, including 7,200 vape cartridges.

    According to Marijuana Business Daily, the state regards Kushy as an illegal business, a status which is disputed by the company, which maintains that it has a license with the California Department of Public Health, and passed all BCC inspections as of October 3.

    Eric Shevin, legal counsel for Kushy Punch, told Marijuana Business Daily in a statement that the cartridges confiscated by the BCC were “located in a single box labeled for destruction following their discovery among packaging and marketing materials at a separate storage facility. These cartridges were unusable due to their age, as their batteries had died after being stored for more than two years.”

    Shevin added that the company “intends to cooperate and work closely with the BCC in its efforts to protect consumers and license holders.” A spokesperson for the BBC declined to comment on the issue beyond noting that the investigation was ongoing.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Vaping-Related Fatalities Rise To 23 With Death Of Bronx Teen

    Vaping-Related Fatalities Rise To 23 With Death Of Bronx Teen

    The 17-year-old New Yorker is the youngest person in the country to fall victim to a vaping-related illness.

    A Bronx teenager has become the youngest victim to die of a vaping-related illness. The 17-year-old boy’s death marked the 23rd vaping-related death in the country, and the first in New York state.

    The boy died on Friday after being hospitalized twice in September for the illness, the New York Times reported.

    No End In Sight

    Across the U.S., about 1,100 vaping-related lung injuries have been reported, with the outbreak “continuing at a brisk pace,” said Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the CDC.

    New York’s health department has received 110 reports of severe lung illness in patients aged 14-69 who had used at least one vape product before falling ill as of Tuesday (Oct. 8). 

    Governor Andrew Cuomo warned families to be wary of the products. “Parents have to know; young people have to know. You are playing with your life when you play with this stuff.”

    New Jersey’s First Vaping-Related Death

    Last week, New Jersey also reported the state’s first vaping-related death, an adult woman from north Jersey.

    The FDA recently urged the public to stop using vape products that contain THC or any vape product obtained illegally. So far, investigators say that black market vape products that contain THC appear to be a common denominator in the outbreak.

    They may be on to something. A recent lab analysis commissioned by NBC News revealed that legal THC vape cartridges were found to contain no heavy metals, pesticides or solvents like vitamin E. But the majority of black market THC vape cartridges did contain vitamin E and myclobutanil, a fungicide that becomes hydrogen cyanide when burned.

    Recent busts have shed light on the lucrative business of producing and selling counterfeit THC vape products.

    A Wisconsin woman was arrested in late September for allegedly helping run her sons’ THC vape cartridge operation, which involved purchasing empty vape cartridges and colorful packaging on the internet and filling the cartridges with THC oil using syringes.

    Authorities seized nearly 130,000 cartridges that were either empty or contained THC oil between the family’s home in Paddock Lake, Wisconsin and a condominium in nearby Bristol.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • FDA, DEA Partner For Probe Into Vaping Illnesses

    FDA, DEA Partner For Probe Into Vaping Illnesses

    The agencies are focusing on vaping manufacturers in order to “[follow] the supply chain to its source.”

    The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will assist the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its investigation into the spate of vaping-related illnesses that have sickened more than 1,000 and claimed at least 18 lives.

    In testimony before a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on September 25, acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Ned Sharpless said that the agencies will collaborate to determine “if someone is manufacturing or distributing illicit, adulterated products that caused illness or death for personal profit,” which would be considered a criminal act.

    FDA Waited Too Long To Review Vaping Products

    Sharpless acknowledged that the FDA should not have waited to review e-cigarette products, a decision which some lawmakers have said was a contributing factor in the rise of teen e-cigarette use.

    Sharpless’s testimony came on the heels of the FDA’s announcement of a criminal problem into the rash of vaping illnesses, which they announced on September 19. He mentioned that the decision to bring the DEA into the probe is due to the number of illnesses and deaths related to the use of vaping cartridges containing THC.

    As for the focus of the probe, Sharpless said that the agencies are focusing on vaping manufacturers in order to “[follow] the supply chain to its source.”

    Additionally, Sharpless said that the FDA plans to finalize a draft of new guidance for flavored vaping products. Warning letters will be sent to manufacturers that do not remove those products—save for those that are flavored like tobacco—from the market. Those that do not comply may be subjected to additional warning letters, as well as possible fines and injunctions.

    Why Did The FDA Take So Long to Act?

    But lawmakers on the subcommittee also wanted to know why the agency appeared to wait nearly three years in order to take action in regard to e-cigarettes.

    The FDA asked companies in 2016 to file applications to market products by August of 2018, but as STAT News noted, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb shifted the agency’s focus to curbing nicotine levels in traditional cigarettes, while also delaying the marketing applications to 2022 (the deadline has since been moved to May 2020).

    In response to the subcommittee’s inquiries, Sharpless said that the “FDA should’ve acted sooner,” but added that the probe, and the addition of the DEA to its efforts, should help them “catch up.”

    “We will not rest until we have answers to the questions in the investigation, and until we have dramatically reduced the access and appeal of e-cigarettes to kids,” he said.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • What Vaping Statistics Tell Us About The New Epidemic

    What Vaping Statistics Tell Us About The New Epidemic

    The statistics highlight just how popular the smoking trend is among adolescents and young adults. 

    Vaping has recently become headline news, as the national scrambles to figure out the cause of vaping-related illnesses that have killed 18 people as of Thursday (Oct. 3). Looking at the numbers around vaping can help people understand the issue. Here are some things to consider:

    Vaping is relatively rare among adults

    Although everyone seems to have an opinion on vaping, not too many adults are actually using e-cigarettes. According to the Truth Initiative, 4.2% of adults ages 25 to 44 were using e-cigarettes in 2016. That was an increase from 2013, when just 2.4% of adults were using them, but is still a relatively low rate.

    Most adults who use e-cigarettes are doing so to replace traditional tobacco products. Nearly 59% of adult users said they smoked both traditional and electronic cigarettes in 2015. An additional 30% of adult users were previous smokers, and just 11.4% of adult e-cigarette users had never smoked cigarettes.

    Vaping is very popular among teens, young adults

    Unfortunately, vaping has become super popular among teens and young adults, many of whom have never used traditional cigarettes. Although it’s illegal for people younger than 18 (or in some states, 21) to purchase or use vape products, 40% of 12th-graders surveyed in 2019 reported that they’ve used nicotine vapes, according to U.S. News and World Report.

    More than a quarter reported using nicotine vapes within the past 30 days. That’s a massive rise from 2017, when just 13% of 12th-graders had used vapes within the past month. Now, 12% of high school seniors say they use nicotine vapes every day.

    Unlike adult users, who seem to use e-cigarettes to replace traditional nicotine products, young people are using e-cigs as their first exposure to nicotine. Experts are concerned that teens who otherwise would not get hooked on nicotine are becoming dependent on it because of their vape use. For example, in 2018, 7.6% of high school seniors had smoked a cigarette within the past month, but 26.7% had used a vape, according to the Monitoring the Future survey.

    In adults, it’s associated with tobacco use

    Data shows that states with higher rates of tobacco use also have higher rates of e-cigarette use. For example, Kentucky had some of the highest smoking rates, with 24.6% of adults using traditional cigarettes in 2017 and 6.1% using vapes. In California, where just 11.3% of adults smoke tobacco, just 3% used vapes.

    The adult use trends are uneven. In fact, half of the states saw adult vaping rates decrease from between 2016 and 2017, while half saw an increase in adult use. Despite this, teen and young adult vaping rates continue to rise across the board.

    View the original article at thefix.com