Vaping needs curbed

Published 8:26 am Friday, September 13, 2019

Vaping was promoted as a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco.

And for many people it has been. In fact, many people say that vaping lead them to quitting smoking entirely.

But now, health officials are finding that vaping is leading to serious breathing illnesses for at least 10 people in Ohio and for 450 people across the nation and may have contributed to five deaths.

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It seems the problem is not with the vaping devices, liquids or ingredients that comes from companies but possibly from people who are vaping THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that gives users a high. Those juices are made, not by companies, but by people making liquids at home.

Now, Ohio is going to spend $4 million to help curb the use of vapes and e-cigarettes. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced restrictions on the use of flavors in nicotine vaping products, saying that the flavors were attracting underage smoking.

According to one survey, one in four students say they have vaped in the past year.

The ban on flavors is nothing new. In 2009, the federal government banned all flavors, except menthol, in cigarettes.

While vaping is supposed to help, we cannot let it replace smoking if it turns out to be just as bad.