The California Department of Health has issued an Alert after several cases of Severe Acute Pulmonary Disease associated with Cannabis or Cannabidiol Oil Vaping were reported in King’s County over the last few months.
According to Lassen County Public Health Tobacco Use and Reduction Program Coordinator Vanessa Hanson at least 7 cases of the condition were reported and the CDPH has released a Health Alert to all local public health departments.
“The tobacco program will be distributing this information to doctors and school nurses in our county to ensure that they are aware of the problem in case they encounter students experiencing the symptoms described.”
In a little over two months at a King’s County hospital there were at least 7 young people hospitalized with severe respiratory distress after vaping.
“A reported common exposure among these patients,” explains Hanson, “is that they have vaped cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD) oils. Cases have been reported nationwide, including in California.”
Clinicians who become aware of cases similar to those described above are asked to report them to their local health department. Local health departments are asked to report cases to Dr. Amy Heinzerling at (510) 620-3711 or email [email protected].
Vaping refers to the increasingly popular practice of inhaling vapor from an e-cigarette device, which works by heating a liquid that can contain nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs. The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown. The liquids used in e-cigarettes are largely unregulated, and they can contain toxic chemicals that can cause lung damage.
