Perry Hall High School to receive tobacco awareness grant

PERRY HALL, MD—Baltimore County Councilman David Marks announced on Tuesday that Perry Hall High School would receive a grant of approximately $800 to assist with anti-smoking awareness. The funds will be used to educate students in health and physical education classes about the dangers of tobacco use, with a particular focus on vaping. Grant funds are provided to Baltimore County […]

Comptroller Franchot announces task force to examine effects of electronic smoking devices

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Citing a growing number of reports about serious illnesses, lung disease, and deaths that are attributable to vaping, Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday announced that he would create a task force to examine the public health and safety implications of electronic smoking devices (ESD). “As Maryland’s chief tobacco regulator, my job is to safeguard public health, protect consumers and […]

Baltimore County increases smoking age to 21 to align with state law

TOWSON, MD—The Baltimore County Council voted on Tuesday to approve County Executive Johnny Olszewski’s proposal to increase the legal age for tobacco product sales in Baltimore County from 18 to 21 years of age and to expand the law to include all electronic smoking devices (ESD), component parts and accessories, otherwise known as vaping products. While Maryland recently raised age […]

Maryland Department of Health continues to investigate vaping-related illnesses as Tobacco 21 goes into effect

BALTIMORE, MD— The Maryland Department of Health continues its investigation of severe lung illnesses, of which 20 cases have been identified in Maryland. MDH officials say they are working diligently with federal partners, local health departments, and clinicians around the state to investigate these severe lung illnesses. “This is a major public health concern,” said MDH officials in a statement, […]

Health alert issued: 5 Maryland residents hospitalized after vaping

BALTIMORE, MD – More alarm bells are going off for e-cigarette users. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Poison Center at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy have identified five individuals who, in the last two months, developed severe lung illness after using e-cigarettes, often referred to as “vaping.” Respiratory symptoms reported by patients included shortness […]

Illinois patient’s death may be first in U.S. attributed to vaping

NOTTINGHAM, MD – Just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned of the potential dangers of vaping, the first U.S. death attributed to e-cigarettes appears to have occurred. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on Friday reported the death of an individual who had recently vaped and was hospitalized with severe respiratory illness. IDPH officials say […]

CDC investigating severe pulmonary disease among people who use e-cigarettes

UPDATE: The first U.S. death attributed to vaping appears to have been reported. Original story below… —— NOTTINGHAM, MD – If you use e-cigarettes, you might want to reconsider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing consultation to the departments of health in Wisconsin, Illinois, California, Indiana, and Minnesota about a cluster of pulmonary illnesses linked to e-cigarette […]