Description: People with substance use and mental health disorders have high prevalence rates of tobacco/nicotine use. In the past year, new health risks have surfaced related to cigarette smoking and e-cigarette use. In 2019, severe and sometimes fatal cases of e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) emerged nationally, hospitalizing over 2000 people and killing 68. (CDC, 2/20) Vaping products, especially those containing THC and Vitamin E acetate, have been identified as the cause, although in Massachusetts, some patients reported vaping nicotine only, or nicotine and THC.
Early data from the Covid-19 pandemic show that people who smoke may have more severe illness compared to people who never smoked. Smoking weakens the lungs, heart, and other vital organs essential to the body’s fight against COVID-19. Smoking damages the immune system and increases risk of lung and chest infections. Smoking and vaping can increase the possibility of COVID-19 being transferred from hands to mouth, and people with active alcohol/other drug addictions may be sharing vapes and cigarettes, passing the virus to each other.
The workshop will provide vital information for helping people who may be ready to stop tobacco use or seeking to reduce their risks and move towards quitting.
We will describe and review e-cigarettes and the range of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) available, JUULs among them, including how these products work, what is in them, and the health impact of using ENDS. We will review data from the 2019-20 outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette and vaping products, and look at the coronavirus concerns related to tobacco use. We will look at the role of flavors in tobacco/nicotine products, especially menthol, and menthol’s impact on health and quitting smoking. New laws being implemented in Massachusetts on June 1, 2020 which restrict the sale of menthol flavored tobacco products will also be discussed.
Objectives:
Upon completing this training, participants will be able to:
- Define and describe electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) and their use
- Describe the role of flavors in tobacco products including ENDS, with a focus on menthol
- Review current research findings on the health impact of using ENDS, including the recent national outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI)
- Review incoming Massachusetts laws on tobacco products that go into effect 6/1/20, and the implications for people in treatment and the recovery community
- Identify health messages to give individuals in treatment for substance use disorders regarding the overlap of smoking and vaping tobacco and Covid-19 symptoms and disease progression
Sponsored by: MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Abuse Services, Institute for Health and Recovery & AdCare Educational Institute, Inc.
