Recently, several incidents of severe lung injuries, associated health issues and deaths among the users of vaping products have been reported in USA.FDA and CDC bas taken a serious view of these fatal incidents.

Over the past several weeks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been working tirelessly along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal, state and local partners to investigate the distressing incidents of severe lung injuries and deaths associated with the use of vaping products.

The latest number of reported cases and deaths, released by the CDC recently, continues to underscore the need  to gather critical information and provide consumers with actionable information to help best protect themselves and their loved ones.

This is why , FDA has issued message to the public in an updated consumer alert stating that they should not use vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component of the cannabis plant.

A consumer who choose to use any vaping products should not modify or add any substances such as THC or other oils to products purchased in stores and should not purchase any vaping products, including those containing THC, off the street or from other illicit channels.

This is a complex, ongoing and evolving investigation. At this time, the FDA does not have enough data to identify the cause, or causes, of the lung injuries in these cases.

Additionally, while no one compound or ingredient has emerged as a singular culprit, FDA does know that THC is present in most of the samples being tested.

Because of this, the agency believes it is prudent to stop using vaping products that contain THC or that have had any substances added to them, including those purchased from retail establishments.

Simply put, inhaling harmful contaminants in the lungs could put a patients health at risk and should be avoided. 

For those who choose to continue the use of vaping products, particularly those containing THC, FDA has urged  all to monitor for symptoms and promptly seek medical attention if you have concerns about your health.

And, importantly, no youth or women who are pregnant should be using any vaping product, regardless of the substance.

FDA has said that additional testing revealed that a majority of the hundreds of samples of vaping products tested by the states or by the FDA so far have been identified as containing THC.

Additionally, according to recent findings, most of the patients impacted by these illnesses reported using THC-containing products.

It has suggested that THC products are playing a role in the these illnesses.

That said, some patients have reported using both THC products and nicotine products, as well as a smaller number reporting using only nicotine products.

Similarly, testing on the samples collected or received by the FDA shows a variety of products, or product components, with different ingredients or delivery systems making this investigation especially challenging.

The investigation has not identified any specific substance or product that is linked to all cases. The FDA is using state-of-the-art methods to assess the presence of a broad range of chemicals, including nicotine, THC and other cannabinoids along with opioids, cutting agents/diluents and other additives, pesticides, poisons and toxins.

To date, the agency has collected or received more than 440 samples from 18 states – and that number continues to grow.

More than half of the vaping liquid products have undergone some form of evaluation, with additional testing on these and other samples continuing daily.

FDA is following all potential leads regarding any particular product, constituent or compound that may be at issue.

The FDAs Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) began parallel investigative efforts shortly after the emergence of the associated illnesses.

As this complex investigation continues, FDA has urged consumers to take serious note of its warning and stop using THC vaping products, and to not use vaping products of any kind that are purchased off the street or from unknown sources.

OCI agents of FDA are focusing on identifying the products that are making people ill and following the supply chain to the source.

We are also continuing to encourage the public to submit detailed reports of any unexpected tobacco- or vaping-related health or product issues to the FDA via the online Safety Reporting Portal.

In a positive move, FDA is not pursuing any enforcement actions associated with personal use of any vaping products.

It is keeping an watch on the suppliers.FDA has said that if it determines that someone is manufacturing or distributing illicit, adulterated vaping products that caused illness and death for personal profit, it would consider that to be a criminal act.

FDA has warned that it is prepared to use its authorities to the fullest extent possible, and would work with other federal, state and local authorities to take appropriate action as the facts emerge in order to protect the public health.

The ongoing investigation is complex and evolving.

The demographic diversity of the patients, products , substances and sampl may mean there may be multiple causes of these illnesses.

Emergency Manager magazine has continuously advocated the control over vaping and related products.It is doing more harm than good.In fact,USA should move towards its ban based on scientific evidences.

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