Title Updated: October 25, 2019
Across the country, more than 1000 cases of severe vaping-associated lung disease and dozens of deaths have been reported. The CDC has not yet identified the product or products responsible for this syndrome. We do know that the majority of people affected have been young and previously healthy. Vaping products containing THC and products purchased from informal sources (on the street, via the internet, through friends) seem to be responsible for many cases, but there are also case reports among people who have only vaped nicotine products and/or only purchased products from brick and mortar stores.
Our recommendation at this time is that no one in Philadelphia use a vaping/e-cigarette product. Non-smokers should avoid use of e-cigarettes and other vape products. E-cigarettes are not approved for smoking cessation by the FDA. Smokers who are using or considering use of e-cigarettes/vape products to try to quit smoking should make use of one of the 7 FDA recommended cessation products (https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/want-quit-smoking-fda-approved-products-can-help).
Any Pennsylvania resident can call 1-800-Quit-Now (1-800-784-8669) to get FREE quitting support and up to 8 weeks of FREE nicotine patches, gum and lozenges.
Parents and teachers should talk to their children and teens about the risks of vaping. Rates of vaping have skyrocketed even at the middle school level, so we recommend talking to children beginning as young as 8 or 9. By age 11, many will have already started to vape.
Additional Resources:
CDC Public Post on Outbreak of Lung Injury
See our Resources Tab for additional materials
Updated October 25, 2019: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now refers to this condition as “e-cigarette and vaping product use-associated lung injury” or EVALI. Find the most updated information on the CDC’s public post.