Dank Vapes were the most popular brand of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing vaping product among people hospitalized with lung injuries, according to a new report.
The findings come after 2,291 people have been hospitalized and 48 have died, totals that have been slowing in recent weeks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new information Friday in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report regarding the demographics of those experiencing lung injuries and the types of products they were using.
About 80% of hospitalized patients used a vaping product containing THC. Roughly 56% of those patients used Dank Vapes, which the CDC described as “a class of largely counterfeit THC-containing products of unknown origin.” About 15% used the brand TKO, 13% used Smart Cart and 12% used Rove.
The CDC recently announced it found a link between the lung injuries and vitamin E acetate that sometimes is used as a diluent in THC vaping products, although officials are not ruling out other possible causes.
“Based on findings to date, CDC recommends that persons not use e-cigarettes, or vaping products that contain THC, especially those acquired from informal sources like friends, family members, or in-person or online dealers,” the CDC said in the report. “In addition, persons should not add any other substances to products not intended by the manufacturer, including products purchased through retail establishments.”
Patients have complained of difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and/or chest pain. Some also experienced diarrhea, vomiting, fever and fatigue.
Cases have been reported in every state. About 67% of patients were male, 75% were white and the median age was 24 years, according to the report. The CDC said case counts appear to have peaked in mid-September.
The CDC encourages clinicians to consider vaping-related illnesses in patients with lung disease, collect detailed information on the products patients were using and report suspected cases to their state health department.
