Vaping and COVID-19

This guest post is by Alyssa Shah, who has created the DrugSense Initiative, an online digital academy that educates teens about the dangers of substance abuse and vaping. Shah serves on the New York City HRA Youth Leadership Council.

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19, presents with a number of symptoms, including cough, fever, myalgia, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, can cause respiratory infections and severe illness, especially in persons who have respiratory diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Source: Ruslan Alekso/Pexels

SARS-CoV-2 has now affected millions of people in the United States alone. Earlier this year, Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York, issued a state-wide shutdown of non-essential personnel to limit the spread of the virus to “flatten the curve.” In mid-April, when many restaurants, shops, stores, and offices followed Cuomo’s directive and closed, several stores and bodegas that sell JUUL and other e-cigarette products remained open. Although there is little available data on the impact of e-cigarette use and the severity of COVID-19 illness, it is logical to assume that this is a bad combination.

The common perception among teens is that vaping is safe, but this is far from true. Vaping itself compromises the respiratory system and has been reported to cause pulmonary toxicity including acute eosinophilic pneumonia, diffuse alveolar damage, and e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). In February 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that there were 2,807 EVALI cases or deaths nationwide. Vaping can also make one more susceptible to pulmonary complications from COVID-19 infection and make it harder for the body’s defense mechanisms to fight COVID-19. Vaping can damage cilia in the lungs and make it easier for the coronavirus to enter the lungs; and it can damage neutrophils and macrophages that help the body fight viral infections. Vaping can increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 through a “smokers cough” or through hand-to-mouth contact. Through published data about vaping and the coronavirus, we have reason to believe that those who have chronic lung disease or severe asthma are at higher risk for this novel respiratory illness.

Source: Anna Shvets/Pexels

When JUUL was first introduced, youth found it appealing because it tasted like candy or dessert. Many of my high school friends did not realize that there were toxic chemicals inside the pods too. Although several teenagers are now aware that JUUL contains nicotine, they still are unable to stop vaping. Unfortunately, the teens I know who vaped before the pandemic still vape despite warnings that vaping increases the risk of COVID-19 infection and other respiratory illnesses. There are many places that remain open and are selling e-cigarettes, so lack of access has not been an issue. Because more families are isolating together and staying indoors, it is harder for teens to find a private place to vape without getting caught; however, that has not diminished use. From what I have observed, teens are escaping to large public areas, such as parks, to vape, while still attempting to meet the 6-feet requirement that virologists have recommended.

Vaping itself can cause serious lung injury and COVID-19 infection can be fatal, especially in those with compromised lung function. Due to the effects that both vaping and the coronavirus have on the body, if there was ever a good time to quit vaping, it is now.