Majority of American Adults Still Blame Vaping for EVALI Deaths

Despite the CDC report confirming that EVALI was caused by the consumption of vitamin E acetate found in illicit THC products, a growing number of Americans still believe that regular vaping products are to blame.

Diane Caruana

March 25, 2020

A poll found that 66% of adults remain misinformed in the belief that regular e-cigarettes such as Juul, are to blame for EVALI.

Data released last December by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), had finally confirmed that EVALI, the infamous “vape related” lung disease that has sadly spread across the US, was caused by Vitamin E Acetate Oil found in illegal THC Vaping Cartridges.

Sadly, despite this report, many remain confused and misinformed in the belief that regular e-cigarettes such as Juul, are to blame. In fact a new Morning Consult poll, has indicated that actually 66% of adults are of this opinion. That’s an eight-point increase from a similar poll released in September, which found that 58% were of this opinion.

The misinformation spread by authorities and mainstream media

An article on the Detroit Metro Times rightly pointed out that this misinformation is partly due to the fact that authorities kept warning people to stop vaping, and implementing bans. “I think to some degree, it’s been intentional to conflate nicotine vaping with the THC-cannabis vaping, perhaps with the well-meaning motive about the teen panic about vaping increasing,” Dr. David Abrams, professor of social and behavioral sciences at New York University’s School of Global Public Health, told Morning Consult. “I think some people are thinking, ‘Let’s just demonize all vaping,’ regardless of what the science says.”

Additionally, mainstream media has also routinely conflated nicotine and cannabis vaping, calling them both “vaping”. Due to this and possibly the fact that cannabis is known for its medicinal purpose, now fewer people are aware that the cannabis-derived THC products were to blame at 28%, down from 34% in September.