The American Lung Association has warned that “e-cigarettes are not safe” and can cause irreversible lung damage and disease.
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students. Some e-cigarettes don’t look like tobacco products, so some kids use them unnoticed in schools, including in classrooms and bathrooms. An increasingly popular e-cigarette, called JUUL, is shaped like a USB flash drive and delivers a high dose of nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.
See a healthcare provider right away if you have symptoms like those reported in this outbreak.
If you are concerned about your teen or other family member’s use of tobacco and vaping products, make an appointment with a Canyonlands Healthcare primary care physician or Behavioral Health specialist at 1-877-645-9675.
- cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
- fatigue, fever, or abdominal pain
Some patients have reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks. A lung infection does not appear to be causing the symptoms.