Parson to hold conference on vaping epidemic in Missouri

Gov. Mike Parson will address the rate of young people using e-cigarettes and other vaping products Tuesday morning at a news conference.

The conference focus on the recent epidemic of young people using the products, Parson spokeswoman Kelli Jones said. Jones declined Monday to disclose if any actions will be announced.

Parson’s news conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in his office at the capitol in Jefferson City.

In recent months, the CDC has reported more than 1,000 cases of lung-related illnesses related to vaping products across the country. Twenty-six deaths have been linked to the products, including one in Missouri.

Eighty percent of patients are under 35 years old, according to the CDC.

It’s not clear what is causing the illnesses, and health officials say patients include users of both nicotine and THC vaping products. THC is the ingredient in marijuana that gives users a high.

For more information from the CDC, click here.

Missouri health officials have also reported a significant increase in young people using e-cigarette products. In October, the state department of health and senior services reported that 22 people had contracted illnesses associated with vaping products.

The majority of Missouri patients are between 15-24 years old, and hail from the eastern part of the state, according to a Department of Health and Senior Services spokesperson.

KMIZ