Community Impact | 2019–2020
Battling a new epidemic with awareness
“I am trying to get the message out to kids that vaping is not cool, safe or healthy.”
Andy Gochenour Great Plains Health RRT
In November 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified vitamin E acetate, an additive in the production of THC vaping products, as the first possible culprit behind the recent vaping-related lung illness that has sickened more than 2,000 people and killed 40 across the United States.
and poor air exchange – and is following CDC updates and working with community partners to discourage vaping throughout the community. “We question patients with symptoms of respiratory distress about vaping, current and past, what they use in their vape and how long they have been using,” says Robin Dimmitt, a paramedic who works in the Great Plains Health emergency room. Guido Molina, MD, a pulmonologist at GPHealth, says he hasn’t seen anything like the national EVALI outbreak before.
Whatever its cause, the outbreak of EVALI has been unprecedented. It’s disproportionately affecting young people, with 79 percent of patients under the age of 35. Cases are likely to continue to rise, and they may become more complicated to diagnose as flu season hits its peak. Medical staff is on the lookout for red flag symptoms – such as severe shortness of breath, wheezing
The illness, known as EVALI – e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury – has largely been linked to illicit THC products. This does not rule out the possibility that other substances could also be playing a role. There are reports of some patients diagnosed with EVALI who bought from licensed dispensaries or vaped nicotine products only.
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