Nature abhors a vacuum.
That goes for human nature, too.
During Thursday’s Exchange Club luncheon at Lion Hills Center, Eddie Hawkins of Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics noted the emergence of vaping as a form of recreational drug use has emerged as a public health threat.
“It’s a big problem, a new problem,” said Hawkins, who has spent almost 30 years with the MBN.
As Hawkins was speaking to the Exchange Club, the Center for Disease Control updated its data on vaping-related deaths and illnesses. As of Thursday, there have been 1,080 cases of vaping-related illnesses and 18 deaths nationwide, according the CDC’s report.
The Mississippi Department of Health has reported four cases of vaping-related lung illnesses, and one death — a 27-year-old Amory woman whose name has not been released.
Hawkins said he fears what was once thought to be an alternative to cigarettes is evolving as a means of ingesting high dosages of THC — the chemical in marijuana that produces euphoria or a “high” — as black market producers rake in huge profits.
“As everybody knows, e-cigarettes were designed to help people get off nicotine,” Hawkins said. “The concept was good, at first. The problem is, we don’t know the long-term effect of the ingredients found in these products.”
Hawkins said the problem isn’t confined to black-market producers whose products are sold on the street. It applies to vaping products sold over the counter in vape shops and convenience stores.
“We just don’t know what’s in these products,” Hawkins said. “When a convenience store owner goes online, he’s going to be told that these products are all natural and safe, but the truth is, he has no way to verify that.”
Vaping involves using a small, hand-held device that has cartridges filled with a liquid which usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and chemicals. The liquid is heated into a vapor, which the person inhales. It is believes to be safer than cigarettes, which in addition to nicotine, also carry other chemicals to the lungs including tar.
There are two methods of vaping. E-cigarettes are devices that look similar to traditional cigarettes. They generally consist of a one-piece disposable unit. The second device, called vape pens, are the hugely popular devices that consist of a rechargeable battery and refillable tank.
Hawkins said vape pens have become a favorite among black-market vape producers, producing refills for vape pens with high THC content. Hawkins said those products contain high levels of Vitamin E Acetate, a chemical that can deplete oxygen in the brain in high doses.
“Most of these products are being made by people in their garages,” Hawkins said. “There’s a huge profit margin. A product that costs 7 to 10 cents to produce can sell for $20 on the street. There are a couple of groups in this area we are investigating and they’re selling them as fast as they can get them.”
Hawkins said vaping is especially popular among young people.
“Teenagers to around 30 years old seem to be the people that are vaping the most,” he said. “We’ve seen it with someone as young as 13.
“Our kids are getting their hands on these products,” he added. “We need to start educating our parents on what to look for. The schools are flooded with them right now.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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