SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on Tuesday issued a health advisory urging everyone to refrain from vaping, no matter the substance or source, until current investigations are complete.
The advisory followed an executive order signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on Sept. 16 to confront the growing youth epidemic and health risks linked to vaping.
As of Sept. 24, CDPH has received reports that 90 people in California who have a history of vaping were hospitalized for severe breathing problems and lung damage, and two people have died.
There are more than 500 reports of lung damage associated with vaping across 38 states and one U.S. territory, and more reports are coming in nearly every day.
“We are seeing something that we have not seen before,” said State Public Health Officer Charity Dean. “There are numerous unknown factors at this time, and due to the uncertainty of the exact cause, it is our recommendation that consumers refrain from vaping until the investigation has concluded.”
CDPH, along with other states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, local health departments and healthcare providers are investigating what is in the vape materials that are making people sick.
Although CDPH regulates manufacturers of cannabis vaping products to ensure they are as safe as possible, the agency warns that everyone is at risk any time they inhale a foreign substance. The risk of vaping may include serious illness and death.
“Vaping is not just a concern for youth; the vaping cases under investigation affect youth and adults alike,” Dean said.
Anyone who experiences difficulty breathing after vaping should contact a doctor immediately. Other symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, fever, and weight loss.
People experiencing these symptoms are asked to keep their used vaping cartridges, as CDPH is interested in testing the remaining substances. Those cartridges are being collected by local health departments and sent to CDPH labs for analysis.
In California, licensed cannabis retailers are required to sell products obtained from licensed cannabis manufacturers, which have been tested by a licensed laboratory. Cannabis products sold by licensed sources are tested for a variety of chemicals, pesticides, microbial impurities and heavy metals.
Illegal cannabis dispensaries sell unregulated and untested cannabis products and absolutely should not be used, the CDPH said.
CDC continues to warn that any tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe. Furthermore, the use of cannabis and tobacco products remains especially unsafe for youth, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.
The Governor’s executive order directed CDPH to launch a $20 million statewide digital and social media public awareness campaign to educate youth, young adults and parents about the health risks associated with vaping nicotine and cannabis products.
CDPH is also tasked with developing recommendations to reduce smoking among young adults and teens by establishing warning signs with health risks where vaping products are sold and on product advertisements.
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