Respiratory therapist outlines dangers of vaping as Province plots out new regulations

“We’re looking at chemicals like propylene glycol, glycerine, and while we use those safely in cosmetics or food products, what does it actually mean when we aerosolize those and we inhale them into our lungs?” said Primary Respiratory Therapist, Jacqueline Turvey.

Turvey says young people are drawn to vaping products for their accessories and flavours.

“I mean, we’ve got cotton candy, we’ve got fruit flavours, we’ve got other candy flavours, so I think that’s a big draw,” she said. “I think the advertising is glamourous, they’re making it very glamorous.”

In addition to flavours, the nicotine contained within the vaping liquid is concerning to Turvey.

“We also know that it can actually affect the way that the brain works, and then we think that youth become at addicted at lower levels of nicotine as well,” Turvey said.

In the U.S., more than 800 lung injury cases have been reported among patients with a history of vaping.

On Sept. 20, Interior Health put out a notice to primary care providers to report any possible cases of severe pulmonary disease associated with vaping.

The legal age for purchasing vaping products in B.C. is 19, however, that hasn’t kept e-cigarettes out of the hands of youth.

The provincial government has been put under pressure to crack down on this issue.

“The current regulatory system that deals with vaping, both in Canada and British Columbia is insufficient,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix. “So, we’ll be putting forward a plan in the next few weeks that deals with all of the elements that are required.”

Dix says action needs to be taken on licensing regulations, nicotine levels and flavouring.

“There’s got to be steps taken, we hope, at the federal level so that it’s a national step to address issues around flavouring,” he said, “but we ourselves are looking at that if the action doesn’t come there.”

Turvey hopes the government will take a firm stance on youth vaping.

“Ideally, I’d like to see vaping be banned,” she said, “but if not, then I would like to see tight age ranges, which I know we already have, I would like to see banning of any flavours that are appealing to youth, I would like to see regulations on where it can occur.”

Both Dix and Turvey say public education is necessary to reverse the trend of youth vaping.

by Jill Sperling

Respiratory therapist outlines dangers of vaping as Province plots out new regulations

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