One of the patient’s vape-damaged lungs. Courtesy Henry Ford Hospital – Courtesy Henry Ford Hospital
Nov 12 2019
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Similar info from CDC in the past other than they named the illness and this apparently the first lung transplant as a result of vaping.
What a shame as this kid was only 16 years old and many others being hospitalized are young. Is this being over blown by media? Are there bigger issues they should be focusing on?
Is it a sign of underlying issues in society and how some greedy online and offline retailers or sellers are willing to do anything to increase sales, margins or make money?
Like many concerned parents we have talked to, we tried repeatedly to talk about and warn our kids of the risks of vaping but they wanted to try it and continue doing it as it was cool and made them feel better.
They watch people doing hot boxing inside motorcycle helmets stripped of padding or other stunts on youtube. Then they and their friends egg each other on to do the same, similar or amp it up. All recorded and streamed on social misleadia. Even by themselves they often using concentrations of nicotine and frequencies that are much higher than many regular smokers. Inhaling to the point they get dizzy and short of breath.
They find a store that is willing to sell to under age or an older friend or acquaintance similar with buying alcohol while underage. They find someone that can get it delivered to their house as the parent(s) don’t know or care. They buy online using prepaid credit cards from convenience stores.
Just taking the vap devices and juice away repeatedly and having consequences doesn’t always work as they may just get more and conceal the usage. Is this a sign of addiction or wanting to make their own choices even if they know there are risks?
Now police are being asked to enforce stricter DUI legistation with technology that is still not reliable.
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… The surgeon said throughout his 20 years of dealing with lung transplants, he had never seen lungs such as the ones that belonged to the boy. “It’s an evil I’ve never faced before…,”
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The CDC hasn’t pinpointed the primary ingredient behind the rapid increase in vaping related illness (now called EVALI), but it has found associations with vitamin E acetate, which is an additive in some THC products. The CDC says that THC (the psychoactive compound found in cannabis), has been present in most of the tested samples.
National and state findings suggest that these THC containing products, are particularly from “informal sources”, such as “friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers, [and] are linked to most of the cases and play a major role in the outbreak.”
As the CDC continues researching, they recommend people should not “Buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC, off the street.” They should also refrain from “[Modifying or adding] any substances to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.”
