Lung Injury Outbreak

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), local health departments, and other clinical and public health partners to investigate a multistate outbreak of lung injury associated with use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products.

E-Cigarettes and Vaping

Electronic cigarettes – also called e-cigarettes, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid that allows users to inhale, or “vape”, aerosolized liquid (e-juice) into their lungs. The liquid can contain: nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives. THC is the psychoactive mind-altering compound of marijuana that produces the “high.”

Missouri law prohibits the sale of tobacco products, including these products, to people younger than age 18.

E-cigarettes recently surpassed conventional cigarettes as the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. The use of electronic cigarettes and vaping products have caused many people to get sick, including nicotine poisoning, lung injury, and death. It is critical that public health officials and the general public understand the potential risks of using them.