Ohio Tries To Curb Youth Vaping In Wake Of Illnesses

CLEVELAND — Ohio officials are trying to curb youth vaping as more cases of severe pulmonary illness are discovered statewide. This mysterious illness has been confirmed in 10 people in Ohio and officials are investigating 14 additional cases.

Severe pulmonary illness, a sickness in the lungs, has impacted more than 450 people across 33 states, including Ohio. Health officials believe the cases are all linked to vaping. Ohio Department of Health (ODH) leaders are trying to stymie youth use of e-cigarettes and vaping.

Nationwide, the number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes jumped from 2.1 million in 2017 to 3.6 million in 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. In Ohio, there was a 48-percent increase in vaping among middle school students and a 78-percent increase among high school students, the ODH said.

“Tobacco and other companies are addicting our next generation through vaping — and it is simply not safe. Candy-flavored liquids and intentional marketing tactics are clearly being used to attract and addict young people to vaping,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “That is wrong, and we must continually look for new ways to reduce vaping in Ohio, especially among our kids!”

To address the spread of vaping in Ohio, the ODH announced several initiatives:

• School districts are being asked to ban use of vaping products on school grounds. Districts are also being asked to educate teachers, parents, students and the community on the dangers posed by e-cigarettes and vaping.
• The ODH is investing $800,000 in a vaping public education campaign targeting youth and their parents. The campaign will also focus on the impending law change making it illegal to sell tobacco products (including vapes and e-cigarettes) to anyone under 21.
• ODH is also investing $3.3 million to develop a set of tools for community groups to educate youth about the dangers of vaping. These resources will likely include a web-based youth vaping education module, additional public awareness initiatives and outreach to communities.

Regular users of vapes should consider curbing their use while investigation into these illnesses is ongoing, the ODH said. E-cigarette and vape users who begin experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or fever should seek immediate medical attention.

The Ohio Department of Health first issued a public health notice on August 23 saying the agency was investigating several illnesses that could be connected to vaping. Doctors across the state were told to report any mysterious pulmonary illnesses that could be linked to vaping.