Recently, US health officials reported 18 deaths due to a mysterious lung illness linked to e-cigarettes and other vaping products, and said the number of confirmed and probable cases of the condition now exceeds 1,000. In an estimated 80 per cent of cases, they were vaping mixtures of substances, including marijuana oil. The mystery illnesses resemble a pneumonia which typically starts with nausea, vomiting and shortness of breath, and quickly degrades into a more serious condition where they require to a ventilator.
Senior Research Fellow, Dr Yvette van der Eijk uses this as an example of why it pays to be prudent when it comes to health policy, citing the precautionary principle of finding out the potential harms of a drug before rolling it out to the masses.
“Not a single e-cigarette on the market has met typical safety or efficacy standards that apply for medicines. Little is known on their long-term safety; even less on the health effects of substance mixes like e-liquid and marijuana oil combinations,” said Dr van der Eijk.
She added, “As it turns out, Singapore’s decision to never allow e-cigarette sales in the first place was a wise one. This is because, as illustrated by the US’ experience, it is easier to contain a problem before it starts than it is to close a can of worms.”
Media coverage:
- Vaping deaths show why it pays to be prudent when it comes to health policy, TODAY Commentary, 7 October 2019
- Singapore Today, CN938, 10 October 2019