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Tag: health
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Vaping Exonerated! CDC “Strongly Links” Vitamin E Acetate to Vaping Epidemic
The Vindication of Vaping
The Center for Disease Control has at last exonerated the vaping community. In September, the CDC issued a comprehensive warning about the risks of all vaping products. Despite suggestions from other sources that nicotine vaping was not the problem, the CDC and various news outlets instilled fear in all individuals who vape nicotine.
The Early Suspicions
As early as September 19th, 2019, we reported that the outbreak of lung issues related to vaping was likely due to Vitamin E acetate, and had no connection with traditional nicotine e-liquid vaping products. Five months later, the CDC finally concurs. Regrettably, major news outlets across North America propagated the initial story, indiscriminately associating nicotine vapes with illicit THC-infused vapes sold on the street or in the black market.
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50,000-70,000 smokers quit each year using vapes in England, a UCL study finds
Vaping Aids in Smoking Cessation: UCL Study Reveals
A recent study published by the scientific journal of addiction in England has discovered a positive correlation between the initiation of vaping and the cessation of smoking.
The Study and Its Findings
The research, led by University College London researchers and funded by Cancer Research UK, found a link between the success rates of quitting smoking and the use of e-cigarettes starting in 2011. Interestingly, in England, the number of smokers using e-cigarettes plateaued about four years ago, as did the success rate of quitting smoking.
The Impact of Vaping on Smoking Cessation
The data led researchers to conclude that in 2017, for instance, between 50,700 to 69,930 smokers were able to quit smoking due to vaping, and likely would not have been able to quit otherwise.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Emma Beard, the senior research associate at UCL and the lead author of the study, explained that the study is simply further evidence that vaping can aid smokers in quitting. Dr Beard states: “This study builds on population surveys and clinical trials that find e-cigarettes can help smokers stop. England seems to have found a sensible balance between regulation and promotion of e-cigarettes. Millions of smokers are using them to try to stop smoking or to cut down the amount they smoke”
George Butterworth, a senior policy manager at Cancer Research UK, has stated that “research shows that vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco and can help people to stop smoking. So it’s good that over 50,000 people managed to give up in 2017”
The Right Approach to Vaping and E-Cigarette Regulations
It appears that England has struck the right balance when it comes to vaping and e-cigarette rules and regulations. By using funding from the cancer society to fund research such as this, it opens up new and exciting information about the real-world benefits of seeing over 50,000 smokers starting vaping and quitting smoking, converting to what Mr Butterworth calls a “less harmful” alternative.
You can view the complete study HERE.
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Vaping Illness Discovery – CDC Identifies Vitamin E Acetate as Common Link in Lung Testing
Vaping Illness Discovery – CDC Points to Vitamin E Acetate
The Center for Disease Control has finally identified a probable cause in the vaping-related illness saga.
CDC’s Findings
In a recent update from their website, the CDC stated: “Recent CDC laboratory testing of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples from 29 patients submitted to the CDC from 10 states found vitamin E acetate in all of the BAL fluid samples. This is the first time that we have detected a potential chemical of concern in biologic samples from patients with these lung injuries.”
Vitamin E Acetate – The Primary Culprit
The CDC further stated: “These findings provide direct evidence of vitamin E acetate as the primary site of injury within the lungs.”
Canada Vapes’ Assurance
Speaking on behalf of Canada Vapes, we would like to assure our customers that we have never and will never use vitamin E acetate in any of our liquids. Canada Vapes has always been transparent about the ingredients used in our e-liquid manufacturing, and provide an ingredient list on the label of all of our e-liquid bottles.
The First Common Suspect
This is the first time that the CDC has found a common suspect in the damaged lungs of patients.
Health Canada’s Stance
Health Canada has stated that Vitamin E Acetate is not allowed in Canadian cannabis vaping products. This is the primary reason that the vaping illness problem has been isolated to the United States. Marijuana is illegal in many States, and therefore unregulated and often manufactured on the black market.
The Role of Vitamin E Acetate in THC Pods
Vitamin E acetate has recently started being used as a thickener in THC pods systems, particularly in black market vape cartridges. The majority of individuals affected by this vaping-related illness were using THC/Marijuana oil pods, many of them purchased from street vendors.
While this is the first time the CDC has officially stated the link between Vitamin E Acetate and the illnesses, Canada Vapes posted an article on September 19th discussing this potential relationship. Many other news sources, including The New York Times, have also suggested the link between vaping related illness and Vitamin E Acetate as early as September 5th, over two months ago.
The Media’s Role
Unfortunately for many companies and people who use nicotine e-liquid and vaping products to help them quit smoking, the damage from this has already been done. The media lumped all vaping products into one category. It created fear and panic within the entire vaping industry that nicotine vaping products may be dangerous and causing people to be sick. With this recent discovery, it is now proven that this is simply not the case.
CDC’s Recommendations
We stand in agreement with the CDC’s current recommendations to NOT buy any kind of e-cigarette or vaping products that contain THC off the street. For Canadians, it is recommended to purchase all of your marijuana products from legally operating distribution sources, and to purchase your nicotine e-liquid from long-standing Canadian vape companies.
The Future of Vaping
While the vaping-related illness has been, and will continue to be, a terrible event. this recent CDC update should provide peace of mind to individuals who are legally and safely purchasing their vaping products from professional businesses – both THC/Marijuana vaping products, and nicotine-related vaping products.
A Push to Legalize Marijuana in the United States?
Could this be a push to legalize marijuana in the United States? Many people are suggesting this. We will have to wait and see.
Thanks to Global, CBC, and the CDC for information about this story.
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Significant(96.5%) Decrease in Vaping-Related Lung Disease Across the United States
The Onset of Vaping-Related Illness
In September of 2019, numerous news reports began to emerge regarding vaping-related illness and lung disease. Both the CDC and various news media sources provided scant specific information on these incidents.
The Media’s Role
The media effectively grouped all vaping into one category, suggesting that any use of vaping or e-cigarette products was dangerous and causing illness.
The CDC’s Findings
In the vast majority of incidents reported to the Center for Disease Control – 86% – the users of the vaping products reported using vapes with THC in their devices. [Source] The CDC also suggested that many of the THC Vape pods were not purchased from reputable stores and distributors, but received from friends and family, or purchased from the streets. [citation] The CDC stated on their website: “THC is present in most of the samples tested by FDA to date, and most patients report a history of using THC-containing products”.
The Issue of Self-Reporting
An additional concern with this type of self-reporting is that if an individual is underage, or lives in a State where marijuana products are illegal, they may not disclose their THC/marijuana use.
The CDC’s Record Keeping
The Center for Disease Control has been keeping a record of all patients being admitted to the hospital for these vaping-related illnesses. These results have been reported on a weekly basis.
The Reduction in Vaping-Related Illness
The week with the highest reported incidents was September 8, 2019. During this week, 166 individuals were admitted to the hospital due to lung injury, and 118 patients had experienced symptoms of this lung injury. Contrast that with their most recent reported week, October 6, which had 16 admissions into the hospital and 4 people reporting symptoms. In less than two months, this is a reduction of 90.3% of people hospitalized, and a reduction of 96.5% in patients with symptoms of vaping-related illness.
The Implications of the Reduction
The reason for this reduction is not known, but the incredible reduction has not been in the forefront of the news stories or reports. If you factor in that there are approximately 327 million people in the United States, with an estimated 9% of Americans vaping [source], this is 29.4 million current vapers in the United States. With four individuals experiencing vaping-related illness during the week of October 6, this equates to just a 1 in 7.3 million chance of being affected by this vaping-related illness. If you factor in that an estimated 90% of the current individuals who experienced this lung disease have been using THC products, this number reduces further to a one in 73.5 million chance.
The Question of Regulation
This begs the question – does something that has a one in 73 million chance of illness warrant a continued, fear-mongering outcry against it? Does it require congress to rise up to ban flavors, and in Massachusetts, ban all vaping products across the state? Considering the majority of nicotine vaping users are people using the products to quit smoking, and smoking kills 5 Million people each year- [source], vaping is much safer than smoking, and safer than many things we do every day without concern.
The Future of Vaping
With the increased knowledge regarding the dangers of using unregulated THC products acquired from unknown sources, the reduction of vaping-related illness should continue. We fear that the media’s blanket statements suggesting ‘all vaping products are dangerous’ has caused so much fear in many nicotine vaping ex-smokers, that it’s pushing them back to cigarettes.
Ultimately, until the government fully regulates all marijuana and THC products, as well as all nicotine vaping products, we could continue to see illnesses and quality control issues within the industry.
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Health Canada May Permit Promotion of Vaping’s Health Benefits
Federal Government’s Consideration
Our federal government is contemplating allowing vape companies to advertise the health benefits of their products.
Potential Approved Statements
Examples of these approved statements might include “switching completely from smoking to E-cigarettes will reduce harms to your health” and “if you are a smoker, switching completely to vaping is a much less harmful option”.
Public Perception and Reality
This may come as a surprise to some individuals who have been reading reports on vaping and lung disease. It is important to understand that the above statements are accurate and will be beneficial to current smokers considering the use of E-cigarettes.
The Data on Vaping-Related Illness
The data has shown that the vast majority of individuals affected by vaping-related illness have been using THC pods that are often unregulated, and not nicotine vaping products. In fact, nicotine vaping products have been on the market for over 15 years, are currently used by an estimated 50 million people across the world, and have not shown any history of acute illness related to their use.
The Importance of Target Audience
The key here is to ensure that these advertisements are viewed only by adults who are currently smoking cigarettes.
Original article available here.
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CDC Report – Significant Decline in Young Adult Smokers Disproves ‘Gateway Effect’ of Vaping
CDC’s Findings
A recent study released by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention presents intriguing data. The CDC reports that between 2014 and 2018, the percentage of young adults aged 18-24 who currently smoke cigarettes in the United States has dropped from 16.7% to 7.8%. This represents an overall reduction of over 50% in smokers aged 18-24, indicating no ‘gateway effect’ of vaping.
Increase in E-Cigarette Usage
During the same period, the percentage of adults in this group who currently use electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has risen from 5.1% to 7.6%, an increase of 33%.
Debunking the ‘Gateway Effect’
The notion that an increase in the use of e-cigarettes will lead to an increase in adult smokers seems to be unfounded based on this CDC information. In contrast, the number of young adult smokers has seen a significant reduction over the past 5 years.
The Net Result
The overall net result is a 50% decrease in young adults smoking cigarettes, and an overall increase in non-smokers aged 18-24 from 78.2% to 84.6%.
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Vaping vs. Smoking: A Statistical Analysis of Health Impacts
The Numbers Game
I’ve always been a numbers person. Whether it’s due to my early days of playing online poker or my hyper-analytical mind, I’ve always broken down the data when dealing with a situation. Percentages, calculations, and projections; this is how my brain works. Perhaps I should have been an accountant.
Let’s delve into the statistics when it comes to smoking in Canada.
Smoking Statistics in Canada
In 2018, an estimated 15.8% of Canadians smoked cigarettes, which translates to approximately 4,900,000 people. Of those, the largest demographic was males aged 20-34 years, where nearly 25% were smokers.
By Province, British Columbia showed the lowest smoking levels overall at 12%, and Saskatchewan the highest at 20.1%.
Every year, about 17% of all deaths in Canada are related to smoking. It’s estimated that 36,500 Canadians die each year from smoking-related illness.
Broken down, if you are a smoker, you have a 0.7% chance every year you are alive of dying from smoking. Over a 10-year period, this is a 7.4% chance, and over a 50-year smoking lifetime, this is a 37.2% chance.
Looking at it another way, every year smoking kills close to 1% of its users. Every. Single. Year.
Digging a little deeper, secondhand smoke caused an estimated 831 deaths among Canadian adults in 2002. Also in 2002, smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke accounted for almost 100 infant deaths. Let’s add another nearly 1,000 more deaths in Canada to smoking.
Now let’s shift our focus to vaping; specifically, vaping nicotine e-liquid.
Vaping Statistics in Canada
In Canada, as of 2017, an estimated 15.4% of the population has ever tried an e-cigarette, which is approximately 4.6 million Canadians.
Of these, only 2.9% have used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, and only about 1% reported using e-cigarettes daily. This equates to approximately 292,000 Canadians vaping daily.
Over half of the current smokers in Canada report having used an e-cigarette, compared to just 6.7% of non-smokers.
Among youth, two-thirds of current smoking youth have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, compared to 5% of non-smokers.
What Does This Data Mean?
Using an e-cigarette in Canada is much more popular (over 53% vs. 6.7%) in smokers vs. non-smokers. This means that the vast majority of Canadians trying e-cigarettes (87.4%) are current smokers using e-cigarettes to stop smoking as they are designed to do.
The majority of youth (two-thirds of youth currently smoking) are looking at e-cigarettes to stop smoking. This is compared to just 5% of non-smoking youth. This means that 93% of youth using e-cigarettes are smokers using e-cigarettes to stop smoking.
Using an e-cigarette with nicotine in Canada has resulted in:
Zero confirmed deaths
E-cigarettes and e-liquid with nicotine have been available in Canada for over a decade. Canada Vapes has been selling nicotine vaping products to adult Canadians since 2010. There has been zero confirmed deaths from vaping nicotine in that time. Nearly 300,000 active daily users in Canada, and 4.6 million Canadians who have at least tried using an e-cigarette with nicotine; zero deaths.
Smoking vs. Vaping – Is Vaping a ‘Gateway to Smoking’?
The number of Canadians Smoking in 2001 was 21.7%. In 2007 it was 19.2%. In 2012 it was 16.1%. In 2017 it was 15.1%. Smoking in Canada has been gradually declining since 2000. There is simply no evidence to support the claim that vaping leads to smoking. The data provided shows that the majority of people trying vaping are current smokers, which should (in theory) further reduce the prevalence of smoking in Canada.
Since we started Canada Vapes in 2010, the number of daily smokers in Canada has reduced from 13% to 10.8% which is a reduction of 2.2% or 17% reduction of daily smokers in Canada.
Compare and Contrast:
Smoking: Kills 100 people a day, and causes 2-3 people to die each day from secondhand smoke. It also kills 100 babies a year. Approximately 4.9 million Canadians smoke.
Vaping: In 15+ years has killed 0 people. Approximately 300,000 Canadians vape nicotine e-liquid on a daily basis.
In Conclusion
I will draw no conclusions. I will let the numbers speak for themselves. If you are a current smoker, I would just ask that you let your own common sense and intelligence be your guide. If you are an adult smoker looking at vaping nicotine e-liquid, please consider visiting Canada Vapes. Since 2010 we have converted thousands of smokers to vapers. We believe we are saving lives, but will let the numbers talk.
2018 Smoking and mortality Study found here
E-Cigarette use in Canada study found here.
Smoking prevalence study can be found here.
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86.7 Million years of live saved if American smokers switched to vaping
Potential Lifespan Gains if American Smokers Switched to Vaping
The Potential of Vaping
A recent article published in Tobacco Control estimates that up to 6.6 million premature deaths could be prevented, equating to 86.7 million years of life saved, if current smokers in the U.S. switched to vaping.
The Study by Dr. David Levy
Dr. David Levy, at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington DC, conducted a study with two scenarios; an optimistic scenario where smoking falls to 5% over the next 10 years, and a pessimistic scenario where it falls to 10%. This study explored the potential outcomes if a large number of cigarette smokers switched to e-cigarettes and vaping.
The Optimistic Scenario
In the optimistic scenario, the researchers used similar patterns of vaping use and currently published evaluations of likely harm reduction. If smoking was reduced to 5% across the United States, 6.6 million fewer premature deaths would occur, and 86.7 million years of life would be saved. This is a remarkable real-world study, potentially saving tens of millions of years of life across a country.
The Pessimistic Scenario
In the pessimistic scenario, the researchers repeated the results in a ‘worst-case’ scenario. In this scenario, more young people initiated e-cigarette use and the risks of e-cigarettes (vaping) are on the higher end of suggested estimates. Even in this worst-case scenario, it’s estimated by researchers that 1.6 million premature deaths would be averted, and 20.8 million fewer life years lost.
The Unexplored Impact of Secondhand Smoke
The most fascinating thing about this study is that it does not even delve into the damage and disease caused by secondhand smoke, decline in health, and increased disability that many smokers experience in the years before death. With this additional information, the benefits of e-cigarettes versus traditional cigarettes are even greater.
The Aim of the Research
The aim of the research is to ‘help the (US) Surgeon General and the Public Health Community develop a strategy to reach the ‘endgame’ for cigarette smoking’. Could you imagine a smoke-free America? Where vaping and e-cigarettes have completely abolished smoking in the United States? Where there would be no secondhand smoke illnesses, no more dirty cigarette butts on our sidewalks, and no more stinky cigarette smoke lingering in the air.
Commentary by Dr. Marita Hefler
In additional commentary provided by Dr. Marita Hefler from the Menzies School of Health Research in Australia, she suggests it’s time to consider banning the sale of combustible tobacco products. Until e-cigarettes, no other products could match the efficiency of nicotine delivery. Without vaping as an alternative, an overall ban would be a non-viable option. Dr. Hefler states that the ongoing availability of combustible tobacco products is an “historical anomaly” as it is a legal consumer product that kills 2/3 of its users; an unfathomable deviation from consumer safety regulations.
Dr. Hefler’s Conclusion
Dr. Hefler concludes, “The new continuum of nicotine products presents an opportunity to end the exceptionalism of combustible tobacco, and allow the most dangerous end of the nicotine product continuum to be rapidly, and completely phased out.”
The Great Opportunity with Vaping Products
What a great opportunity we have with vaping products! Eradicate smoking completely and save tens of millions of lives. We hope that our politicians and government agencies will listen to reason and not attempt to ban this life-saving alternative to cigarettes. Cigarettes are called cancer sticks for a reason; they give you cancer and cause death. Every smoker-turned-vaper is a huge net-positive resulting in longer lives, fewer health conditions, and a healthier society for everyone.
Link to Study can be found here.
Link to Commentary can be found here.
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Oil in the lungs? Lipid laden macrophages? Know the FACTS about what’s in Canada Vapes e-liquid!
Misconceptions in Media Reports
In recent media reports, there have been many misguided statements regarding the e-liquid traditionally used in e-cigarettes. Statements such as “Doctors found his lungs had become severely congested with solidified oil”(Source) and “lipid laden macrophages,” calling them “oily chemicals” and making statements like “inhaling oil into your lungs” (Source) have caused fear and confusion. These are certainly scary statements: “oils in your lungs”, “buildup of oils causing respiratory distress”, “solvents”, and “inflammation.”
Before you consider discarding your vapes in favour of cigarettes, here are some facts about the ingredients used by Canada Vapes in their e-liquid, which are created & manufactured for vaping nicotine:
Primary Ingredient #1: Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol (PG) has been used in nicotine e-liquid for many years. It is water soluble, colourless, odorless, non-toxic, and easily metabolized by your body. The FDA has classified Propylene Glycol as GRAS (generally recognized as safe). PG is easily metabolized in the body into normal products of the citric acid metabolic cycle, which are completely non-toxic to the body. (Source)
Propylene Glycol is found in many products around your house. These include soft drinks, ice cream, salad dressings, alcoholic beverages, dried soups, marshmallows, and much more. It also has many cosmetic uses, such as diaper creams and baby lotions, and is used by pharmaceutical companies in topical, intravenous and oral medications.(Source)
Primary Ingredient #2: Vegetable Glycerin
Vegetable Glycerin (VG) is an odorless, water-based carbohydrate that is widely used in the food industry, and is typically extracted from plants. We use plant-sourced USP grade vegetable glycerin. “The toxicity of glycerin is remarkably low across a broad range of animal models and in humans.” (Source)
Vegetable Glycerin has been approved by Health Canada and the FDA, is labeled GRAS (generally regarded as Safe), and it is one of the most benign organic liquids. It’s hypoallergenic, non-mutagenic, non-teratogenic, and non-carcinogenic. (Source)
Vegetable Glycerin is used in a wide variety of products used daily by consumers. It is used in many baked goods, soaps, pet foods, gel capsules, dental care products, eye & ear drops, toothpastes, and in many cosmetics, including shampoos, face washes, blushes, and foundations.
Canada Vapes uses only plant-derived USP grade Vegetable Glycerin in our e-liquids.
Primary Ingredient #3: Flavouring
The flavouring we use at Canada Vapes is water soluble, and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) by both Health Canada and/or the FDA. We do offer many different flavour options at Canada Vapes, so the exact percentage of flavouring we use varies from e-liquid to e-liquid, however the general concentration of flavouring is between 1%-10%. Our flavoring is PG based, and water soluble.
Depending on the individual using our e-liquids it is possible that some flavouring may cause irritation. In general, it is always better to choose not to vape, smoke, marijuana, or any draw any other substances into your lungs. The best air is fresh air. That being said, vaping is a harm reduction product and in comparison with combustible cigarettes the health risks are greatly reduced.
Primary Ingredient #4: Nicotine
We offer our e-liquids in 8 Nicotine Levels, including a (0mg/ml) no nicotine option. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, however its health effects are similar to that of coffee. Nicotine slightly raises your heart rate and therefore blood pressure, slightly increasing your insulin production.
While there are some risks to using nicotine, of all the ingredients in a tobacco cigarette, nicotine is one of the least harmful ones. While nicotine is typically the reason that smokers become addicted, having nicotine available in e-liquid is the reason that vaping is remarkably effective in smoking cessation.
Nicotine also has a few potential benefits – including the potential to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease(Source), reduce stress & anxiety, and stabilize mood. Lynn Kozlowsky, a Professor of Community Health & Health Behavior at the University at Buffalo stated, “Nicotine may be a useful drug for some people and help them function better.”
But What About the Recent Epidemic of People Getting Sick?
CanadaVapes.com has been using the same ingredients in our e-liquids for over 9 years. In our history, none of our patrons have developed any sudden respiratory distress or significant health issues as a result of vaping our e-liquids.
The answer is most likely that the recent epidemic of people getting sick is not from vaping traditional e-cigarettes with nicotine e-liquid. There has been a new additive that a few manufacturers, or individuals, have been adding to pre-filled, black market THC Pods that is most likely causing this epidemic. A product that Canada Vapes does not, and has not, sold.
But What About the “Oils” or “Oily Substances” or “Chemicals Attacking Immune Systems” Mentioned in the Media?
That is a great question! The answer is, I’m not sure.
There are a few theories going around that suggest that some ‘street sellers’, specifically of THC pens & pods, are using ingredients that are NOT safe for human consumption; mainly MCT Oils, Vitamin E Oils, and other chemicals dangerous to inhale. They use these additives to modify their product; THC or otherwise. Unfortunately, with very little regulation in this industry it is possible for a new company or individual to come onto the vaping scene and use unsafe ingredients to create an unsafe product.
So, What Can I Do to Protect Myself?
That’s a great question! There are a number of things you can do to ensure your safety:
First, I would recommend you only purchase your vaping products from a reputable & long-standing vaping company. I would NOT buy vaping products from a variety store, the street, a pop-up kiosk, or any company that seems to be new to the market.
Second, I would ensure that the place you are buying your e-liquid from lists their ingredients. If you see something on the ingredients that you don’t recognize, don’t vape this e-liquid. Do some research and make sure your e-liquid displays its ingredients. If the vape company is reputable in Canada, it should also include a lot number, a poison symbol, an expiry date, and first aid information. These are signs of a reputable company following all laws in Canada.
Third, I would listen to your body! It is possible that some people have sensitivities to any of the ingredients in e-liquid, including Propylene Glycol, Vegetable Glycerin, and some flavours. If you experience any stress when vaping, try switching to a different flavour, or you could try No Flavour E-liquid, which we produce here at Canada Vapes. Another option is a High VG E-liquid if you think you may have a sensitivity to PG.
I feel better! I was pretty worried about hearing all the news in the media.
Unfortunately, the old saying goes ‘if it bleeds, it leads’ in our media, and more and more it seems the big media outlets are going for that big ‘click bait’ title to entice people to read their articles. The media has lumped all vaping products together with a scary warning, instead of looking at the facts: traditional vaping products manufactured by reputable companies are not the culprit, and those people currently using these products should not be fearful.
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Vaping related deaths in the United States – What you need to know.
Over the past week, the media has had a field day with articles about Vaping related deaths in US. I put vaping in quotations as the term vaping is being used loosely by the media referring to any electric device being used to consume anything in vapor form.
Here is what you need to know about these news reports:
- The term ‘vaping’ has in the past referred to using an e-cigarette (a vape) with e-liquid containing nicotine. There have been zero cases of injury or death in the US reported that have been a result of using the traditional nicotine ‘vaping’ products.
- The press has combined the use of illegal THC-infused ‘vape pens’ together with ‘e-cigarettes’ to create an all-encompassing & misleading term, ‘vaping’.
- The Vaping-related deaths that have occurred in the United States due to vaping are very likely linked to a THC-infused vape pen (Source).
- “The serious lung illness affecting hundreds of people in the U.S. who vaped cannabis-based oil.” These devices are often unregulated & illegal and are made by an unregistered individual or company.
- While there have been no official reports from the CDC, initial suggestions are that “some researchers suspect vitamin E acetate, which recently has been used as a thickener.” THC distillate is most commonly used as an additive in marijuana vape pens & pods as THC distillate is very thick. It is theorized that in the process of thinning out the THC distillate, some individuals or companies are using ingredients that are toxic to humans and very unsafe for inhalation. These ingredients could include vitamin E Acetate which is not safe to inhale.
- Traditional vaping (using an e-cigarette/vape with e-liquid with nicotine) has been around for over 12 years, and there have been no deaths or significant injuries reported as a direct result of using these traditional vaping products. On the contrary, these devices have been studied and found to be 95-96% safer than cigarette smoking by several governments, (Source) and recommended for use by several governments around the world.
What the media is effectively doing is lumping in a specific sub-sector of ‘vaping’, specifically illegal drug-infused vape pens & pods, in with traditional nicotine e-cigarettes and causing fear, confusion, and doubt about vaping.
Let’s say that a new unregulated car manufacturer started making cars that ran on jet fuel and started illegally selling these cars, and then people who bought these cars were being hurt or killed, would you start worrying about your Ford Escape or Toyota Prius? Would you want our government to ban the use of all vehicles? Would you want our media to suggest it is now as dangerous to drive your traditional vehicle as it is to drive a black market rocket car?
There are currently an estimated 10 million people using traditional vaping products (e-liquid with nicotine with a vaping/e-cigarette device) worldwide, and many have been using them without issue for years. If there were a serious health risk associated with this type of vaping, it would have surfaced very long ago.
What should you do?
Knowledge is power. The first suggestion I would have is to only purchase your vaping products from a trusted and well-recognized business. Canada Vapes (shameless plug coming) has been selling vaping products since 2010. We only work with the best e-cigarette manufacturers who produce their products using strict quality control and adhere to strict manufacturing procedures.
Secondly, we recommend you only purchase your e-liquids from businesses that are reputable, and that have their ingredients listed on the bottle. Know what is in your e-liquids.
Lastly, listen to your body! For me personally, when I transitioned from cigarette smoking to vaping, my body said “YES”. My breathing improved, my smoker’s cough went away, and my taste buds started tasting food again. If you listen to your body it will let you know if you are having any issues with vaping. A small percentage of vapours transitioning away from cigarettes can have some negative effects from vaping nicotine e-liquid including dry mouth, headaches, and a sensitivity to different flavours. Most of these negative effects will go away within a few days of transitioning, but it is important to listen to your body and stop vaping if it is causing you any distress.
At the end of the day, this seems to be nothing more than media hype followed by a significant overreaction by many States and even government heads (Donald Trump) with very little knowledge or understanding of A) the problem at hand B) the steps required to resolve the problem. Banning all vaping, or even banning flavoured e-liquids, would do nothing to prevent the current issues regarding THC-infused illegal vape pens being manufactured & sold. What we need from our government is regulation and not prohibition. We need to force all vaping companies, as well as all marijuana companies to a stricter manufacturing process and ensure quality control within the industry.
Howie