The Trump administration says that they have spoken with the FDA, asking them to ban flavored e-cigarettes, according to CNBC News. In the wake of hundreds of mysterious, serious lung illnesses and at least five deaths, US Healthy Secretary Alex Azar told reporters that the policy is being finalized.

Last month, Michigan became the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes entirely. Many states have only recently begun to regulate the devices, which usually dispense flavored “vapor” as well as nicotine.

Vaping Illnesses and Deaths

In the past few months, over four hundred people who use e-cigarettes to vape nicotine (and sometimes marijuana) have fallen ill with severe lung problems. Some of the people have acquired rare infections, while others seem to have physical changes in their lungs. One young man needs a lung transplant, while six other people have died.

No one device has yet been identified with the illness, although the FDA says that some of the vapes were using Vitamin e in the cartridge.

While a few people who have died from the illness have been in their 50’s, most of the people hospitalized are young and presumably healthy adults. One family described their son as an athlete, while a young lady from another family went from doing swim competitions to struggling to breathe.

Government Urges People to Quit Vaping

The government has urged young people to stop vaping, at least until the mystery is solved. Unfortunately, if a person is addicted to the substance, “just stopping” can be very difficult.

If you or somebody you love is addicted to nicotine vaping, there is help available. See your doctor and ask about nicotine replacement therapy and any other assistance you can get.

If you’re addicted to vaping marijuana, a treatment program can help. Please contact one of the centers on this website to get more information and find help!