The investigations of the multi-state outbreak of lung injuries related to vape has led to the discovery that they have often involved THC products, according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), FDA (Food and Drug Administration) state and local health departments and other clinical/public health partners.

As of October 29, 2019, there have been 1,888 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product usage that has been associated to lung injuries across the country – also referred to as EVALI: e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury as defined by Scientific American.

All EVALI patients have not only a reported history of e-cigarette, vaping product usage, but have also had THC present in most of the samples tested by the FDA and not regular, tobacco e-cigarette, vaping products. Most patients are also likely to have a reported history of using THC-containing products according to the CDC.

The CDC has also stated that these patients have obtained these THC products off the streets, through friends, family members or illicit dealers – trusted vendors or retailers were not listed as being part of this epidemic.

The CDC recommends that people should not buy any type of e-cigarette, vaping products that contain THC off the streets, through illicit dealers or modify/add any substances to existing e-cigarette, vaping products that were not intended by the manufacturer.

A main substance that has not been intended to be used in e-cigarette, vaping products is Vitamin E acetate: which can be found in the majority of the THC-containing vaping samples that is used by those to cheaply thin the THC oil according to USA TODAY.

To find out more, please visit The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website where latest outbreak information is updated every Thursday.

 You can also find out more information at the following links used for this article:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/28/health/cdc-vaping-death-data-mmwr/index.html

https://www.statnews.com/2019/09/16/vaping-related-illnesses-question/