Governor Mike DeWine officially called on the General Assembly to ban flavored e-cigarettes throughout the state, something that he has shown interest in doing before.
A conference between the governor and members of his cabinet was held to discuss how e-cigarettes affect teenagers and young adults - and was in response to the number of lung illnesses that have been seen in the state of Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health reported 21 vaping related illnesses within the state, with 19 other vaping related injuries being investigated.
Gov. DeWine, who helped to write the legislation that banned flavored cigarettes back in 2009, says that the flavors are part of what is drawing kids in to vaping.
"They lure kids in with sweet flavors such as fruit, candy, chocolate, menthol, mint - they get them hooked on massive quantities of nicotine and make it all seem cool on social media," said Gov. DeWine. "In simple terms, flavors are driving e-liquid sales; e-cigarette sales are being driven by these flavors."
As for what may be causing those injuries is still uncertain.
Dr. William Cole with Mercy Health-St. Rita's says that vaping companies are often making their own mixtures and that people can react differently depending on what's on the ingredient list.
"We do have a trend right now, at least to some more of the problems for respiratory illness has been in with cannabinoids and with vitamin E acetate - that’s a formulation of vitamin E, and acetate is really used for fingernail polish remover," said Dr. Cole, who is with Pulmonary Critical Care at Mercy Health-St. Rita's. "When you’re putting that together and inhaling it, the body is reacting to it and it’s causing injuries."
The legal age to buy cigarettes, vape pens, and other tobacco products in the state of Ohio officially rose from 18 to 21, after Gov. DeWine signed a state budget bill back in July.
