Vaping: Deaths, diseases and controversies of the last year

In recent weeks, there has been a lot of news about people who end up in the hospital because of lung problems, seizures, and more. health problems after vaping – and seven people died. It is clear that we are just beginning to understand all the dangers of vaping.

Electronic cigarettes first appeared on the US market about ten years ago and were considered a safer alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes. However, they really gained ground only in 2015, when Juul Labs (then part of Pax Labs) debuted USB size vaporizer and quickly became the leader of the industry.

This resulted in a peak in e-cigarette consumption, particularly among young adults, a segment of the population that previously consumed fewer tobacco products, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration finalized a rule expanding its regulatory power over all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, which are still having repercussions today.

Below, we review what happened last year, as health officials and the vaping industry try to adapt to this regulatory environment. full mutation.

September 12, 2018 – FDA calls teenage girl "vaping"

Dr. Scott Gottlieb, the FDA's Commissioner at the time, issued a statement calling the teenager "steamy" from the outbreak and urging the electronic cigarette sector to solve the problem or to risk seeing his flavored products removed from the market.

September 31, 2018 – FDA inspectors seize documents from Juul Labs headquarters

The FDA has conducted an unannounced inspection of the Juul Labs headquarters in San Francisco, seeking additional information about the company's marketing and business practices. The inspectors collected "over a thousand pages of documents", according to the agency.

November 18, 2018 – Juul Labs closes its social media accounts

After the FDA expressed concern over Juul's attractiveness for attracting underage users, the company closed its Facebook and Instagram accounts and restricted its Twitter presence to "non-promotional communications."

March 13, 2019 – FDA limits sale of flavored tobacco products

The FDA is issuing new guidelines limiting the sale of most flavored tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, to convenience stores, gas stations and pharmacies. The FDA also requests all electronic cigarette manufacturers to submit applications showing that their products comply with the regulations in effect by August 8, 2021.

March 27, 2019 – Health experts sue FDA for delaying e-cigarette review

Seven medical and public health groups and several pediatricians filed lawsuits against the FDA for failing to comply with the appropriate requirements when the agency gave more time to the manufacturers of electronic cigarettes so that they could submit their products for examination.

April 3, 2019 – FDA announces investigation into potential link between seizures and vaping

The FDA informs the public that it has received reports of epileptic seizures following the use of electronic cigarettes.

June 25, 2019 – San Francisco prohibits electronic cigarettes

San Francisco, headquarters of Juul's headquarters, becomes the first city in the United States to ban the sale of electronic cigarettes.

July 12, 2019 –Deadline for submission of e-cigarette marketing applications

A United States District Court Judge in Maryland has given until May 12, 2020 to electronic cigarette manufacturing companies to submit their tobacco claims prior to marketing to the FDA for approval.

July 23, 2019 – FDA launches anti-vaping ads to combat teenage vaping

The FDA is launching new anti-vaping ads as part of The Real Cost, its nearly $ 60 million smoking prevention campaign. In TV commercials, a street magician uses tricks to educate teens about the risks associated with the use of electronic cigarettes.

July 24, 2019 – Facebook and Instagram restrict the content of the electronic cigarette

Facebook is releasing a new policy that will limit sales and limit content related to alcohol and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, on Facebook and Instagram.

July 26, 2019 – WHO publishes report on global tobacco epidemic

In a report, the World Health Organization calls for more research and increased regulation of e-cigarettes and specifically designates Juul as one of the new players in the industry that "continues to undermine tobacco control ".

August 7, 2019 – The FDA has announced that it has received 127 convulsions related to vaping

The FDA issued a statement that 127 convulsions or other neurological symptoms, such as fainting or tremors, occurred after a vaping between 2010 and 2019 were received.

August 14, 2019 – Vaping Industrial Group Continues FDA

The Vapor Technology Association, which represents hundreds of vaping companies, is taking legal action against the FDA to delay review by regulators of electronic cigarettes currently on the market.

August 16, 2019 – Investors still optimistic about Juul Labs

Juul Labs has raised an additional $ 325 million from investors, despite growing health and legal concerns, according to regulatory filings.

August 17, 2019 – CDC opens probe into pulmonary disease related to vaping

State and federal health officials are coming together to examine whether e-cigarettes have caused serious lung problems in 153 people (and more).

August 19, 2019 – Juul Labs sued for marketing practices

A 19-year-old Juul user sued the company for targeting minors and using deceptive marketing practices, saying the practices had led to its nicotine addiction. The complaint also includes tobacco giant Philip Morris and his parent Altria, an investor in Juul.

August 19, 2019 – Health officials report that more than 150 people have been hospitalized

State and federal health officials reported that 153 people – including many young adults – in 16 states were treated for respiratory problems after vaping.

August 20, 2019 – Juul Labs leaves the Vapor Technology Association

Six days after the VTA filed a lawsuit against the FDA, Juul Labs announced that she would not renew her membership, citing differences on "critical policy issues."

August 23, 2019 – Illinois reports that one patient died after being vape

The Illinois Department of Public Health said that a person who "had recently emptied and had been hospitalized for a serious respiratory illness" had died. Death could be the first related to vaping in the United States, according to the Associated Press.

August 28, 2019 – CEO of Juul says cases of respiratory illness are "disturbing"

Juul's CEO, Kevin Burns, calls the recent series of potentially pulmonary diseases linked to spraying "worrying" and urges non-smokers to avoid using Juul. "If there was any indication of a health problem related to our product, I think we would act very fast," Burns said in an interview with CBS This Morning.

August 29, 2019 – FTC opens investigation into Juul's business practices

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the Federal Trade Commission opened an investigation into whether Juul was engaging in misleading marketing, targeting minors and potentially seeking pecuniary damages.

August 30, 2019 – CDC: Do not buy vaping products on the street and do not modify them

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention "have taken the unusual step" of issuing recommendations regarding e-cigarette and e-cigarette products, the New York Times reported. The CDC's recommendations regarding vaping concern the general public, clinicians and public health officials. Among the advice to the public: "Anyone who uses electronic cigarette products should not buy these products off the street (for example, electronic cigarette products containing THC, other cannabinoids) and should not these products or add substances to them that are not intended by the manufacturer. "The CDC also stated: as he had done previouslythat "e-cigarette products should not be used by young people, young adults, pregnant women or adults who do not currently use tobacco products".

September 4, 2019 – A second death linked to vaping

According to the New York Times, a serious lung disease related to vapor inhalation has taken another life. The unidentified person was hospitalized after vaping THC with a product purchased at a marijuana store for recreational purposes in Oregon, the Times reported. The patient was "otherwise healthy and quickly became very ill," said a public health doctor and the chief investigator of the case.

September 5, 2019 – Indiana announces a death related to a vaping

A third life has been claimed by a serious lung injury related to a vaping, confirmed the Wall Street Journal. After hearing of the death of this individual, the federal health authorities urged them to stop using electronic cigarette products while they were investigating about 450 cases of the mysterious disease in 33 states. .

September 6, 2019 – Two more deaths and a warning from the CDC

Health officials in Minnesota confirmed that a 65-year-old had died in August after a lengthy hospitalization for a serious lung injury. The person had a history of underlying lung disease, but the lung injury was associated with the inhalation of illicit THC products. The lung injury has evolved to other conditions, reported ABC 5 Friday. The Minnesota Department of Health told the station that the state currently has 17 patients classified as confirmed or possible. Fifteen other cases are under investigation.

The first death in Los Angeles County related to a vaping was also reported the same day by ABC 7. The county reported 12 cases of "pulmonary lesions associated with vaping", according to its Ministry of Public Health.

The CDC also issued a statement about its investigations and said that no product is linked to all cases of lung disease. A large number of patients reported having recently used products containing THC, while others reported using products containing both THC and nicotine. A smaller group reported using only nicotine.

Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois tweeted a letter to Ned Sharpless, Acting Commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, asking for action. Durbin said the FDA should send letters to all American schools to warn them of the health consequences of vaping. He also called on the agency to ban the flavors of electronic cigarettes other than tobacco and electronic cigarette devices not approved by the FDA.

"If Dr. Sharpless does not act in the next 10 days, I plan to ask for his resignation. Enough, that's enough" Durbin tweeted.

The vaping epidemic has now reached the point where many people have died and more than 450 have been hospitalized, but @FDACommissioner is sitting on his hands. If Dr. Sharpless does not take action in the next 10 days, I plan to ask for his resignation. Too much is too much. pic.twitter.com/6yXbu3TxSn

– Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) September 6, 2019

September 9, 2019 – FDA asks Juul to claim that vaping is safer than other tobacco products

The FDA has expressed more concerns about Juul about a questionable marketing suggesting that Juul's vaporizer is safer than other tobacco products. Even worse, high school students testified in Congress, claiming that a company representative had told them that Juul was "totally safe."

September 12, 2019 – Juul continues to broadcast photos despite warnings from the FDA

A collection of photos obtained by Business Insider from doctors and researchers illustrates what is thought to be the serious effects of pulmonary lesions associated with vaping. The images include those of a Californian teenager who underwent surgery to remove a bulb that collapsed to a lung after using a cannabis vape that he had purchased at a time when he was sick. a concert. Other photos illustrate trends noted by researchers, including inflammation, lesions of alveoli (or air sacs of the lungs) and fat particles in lung tissue. Surgeons cited in the article said that they could not confirm that injuries and illnesses were definitely caused by a vaping.

Despite a warning letter from the US Food and Drug Administration last week, a Juul spokesperson told CNBC that the company would continue to run its "Make the Switch" advertising campaign, which positions vaping as a safer alternative to cigarettes. The company must obtain FDA approval before claiming that a product is safer than cigarettes, but has not applied for permission, CNBC said.

September 16, 2019 – Three confirmed cases of serious lung disease related to vapor inhalation in Washington

The Washington State Department of Health has confirmed two new cases of severe pulmonary disease related to vaping, bringing to three the total number of confirmed cases in the entire state. Of the two new cases, one patient is in adolescence and the other in his twenties. The three confirmed cases said they had to be vaping before the onset of their illness, but the department has not yet identified any common product, device or additive among the three, although investigations are ongoing.

"The symptoms of these patients correspond to what the Centers for Control and Prevention of Diseases have asked all state health administrations and local health authorities to monitor as part of the national investigation into this case. "said Kathy Lofy, Washington State Health Officer in a press. Release. "It's now an epidemic at the state level."

September 19, 2019 – FDA announces the opening of a criminal investigation into criminal cases while the number of cases reaches 530

Health officials at the Centers for Disease Control reported that the number of cases of pulmonary disease linked to vaping rose to 530 in 38 states. As reported by the Washington Post, the Food and Drug Administration has revealed a criminal investigation into the outbreak. Seven people have died of the disease so far. The FDA has collected more than 150 patient samples across the country and is currently analyzing them for the presence of cutting agents and other substances.

September 20, 2019 – Walmart stops selling electronic cigarettes

Citing "the complexity of regulation" and "uncertainty" around electronic cigarettes, Walmart said it would stop selling its products, according to a new CNBC report. Earlier this year, the company raised the age of 21 to buy tobacco products and stopped selling fruit and nicotine flavors for desserts.

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Note: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or health advice. Always consult a doctor or other qualified health professional for any questions regarding a health problem or health goals.

Alison DeNisco Rayome and Rae Hodge of CNET contributed to this report.