BREAKING NEWS -
CDC points to THC pens as problem!

The CDC for the first time is advising the public to only avoid vaping the marijuana component THC, as federal and state officials narrow their focus on possible causes of the outbreak of related lung illnesses.

CDC Principal Deputy Director Anne Schuchat said today although officials have still not pinpointed a single culprit, the majority of cases continue to involve people who vaped THC, alone or with nicotine-containing products.

The new recommendation is a break from earlier CDC guidance that advised the public to avoid all e-cigarette and vaping products. The CDC, in its warning, noted that just 13 percent of cases involved nicotine products alone and therefore it "cannot exclude the possibility that they play a role in this outbreak."

“THC containing products appear to be implicated, but specific exposures responsible for the lung injuries have not been identified,” Schuchat said.

So far, states have reported 1,299 cases of vaping-related illnesses and the CDC has confirmed 26 deaths. Utah and Indiana reported three other deaths that federal officials have not yet confirmed. Schuchat said she expects the number of cases and deaths to continue to rise.

CDC also released new guidelines for clinicians based off of the updated data.

CDC recommends that people (as of 10/12/2019)

• Should not use e-cigarette, or vaping, products that contain THC.
• Should not buy any type of e-cigarette, or vaping, products, particularly those containing THC, off the street.
• Should not modify or add any substances to e-cigarette, or vaping, products that are not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.

10/11/2019 update

CDC continues to refine recommendations based on emerging data. At this time, FDA and CDC have not identified the cause or causes of the lung injuries in these cases and the only commonality between all cases is that patients report the use of vaping products, including e-cigarettes. No one compound or ingredient has emerged as the cause of these illnesses to date and it may be that there is more than one cause of this outbreak. Available data suggest THC-containing products play a role in this outbreak. As such, CDC recommends that you do not use e-cigarette or vaping products that contain THC.  In addition, no youth, young adult, or pregnant women should be using any e-cigarette, or vaping, product, regardless of the substance.

https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2019/p1011-guidance-health-lung-injury.html

CDC Updated: Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html

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