LORAIN, Ohio — The Lorain Public Health Department has issued advisory for citizens on the use of vaping and e-cigarettes following growing reports of illnesses and deaths linked to e-cigarette use.
The advisory, which was implemented after the city’s Oct. 9 meeting, warns the public to not use e-cigarettes if they are in the following groups:
- Youth and young adults under age 25—e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is harmful to developing brains
- Pregnant women
- People who do not currently use tobacco products
“The CDC and the Ohio Department of Health are investigating an outbreak of lung injury and deaths linked to e-cigarette use. So much is unknown at this time that we recommend that residents keep from using e-cigarettes, especially those that contain THC, " the health department said in a news release.
Patients using e-cigarettes have reported symptoms such as cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, tiredness and fever or pain in the stomach.
According to the CDC, there have been 805 lung injury cases related to vaping in 46 states and 12 deaths in 10 states. In Ohio, there have been 22 injury cases reported and an additional 19 are under investigation. Three of the confirmed injury cases were in Summit County.
