Dallas County Health Director issues vaping warning, calls marketing ‘diabolical’

7 vaping-related deaths reported nationwide; new illnesses in Dallas County

The Dallas County health director says there have now been 17 lung illnesses that could be connected to vaping.

DALLAS - The Dallas County Health Director warned Tuesday that something must be done about vaping.

There are seven deaths nationwide from lung illness related to vaping. Many of the Dallas County patients suffering from vaping-related health issues are young people.

Dr. Philip Huang called the marketing of e-cigarettes diabolical and told county commissioners that perfectly health teenagers and young adults are now dangerously sick.

“Half -- eight of the youth that’s had this severe illness are less than eighteen years of age,” Huang said.

There are 380 confirmed cases of lung and pulmonary illness nationwide. In Dallas County there are 17 confirmed and probable cases. Of those, seven are intubated -- unable to breathe on their own. Officials said there were four new suspected cases on Tuesday.

“It’s all about the marketing. The marketing has to do everything with it... ‘Hey it’s healthier, less nicotine’ which we know is not true,” said Dallas County Commissioner Dr. Elba Garcia.

Huang showed photos of some vape flavors he said aren’t targeted at adults.

“Bubble gum flavor, strawberry, strawberry mocha -- these are clearly marketed to youth and children,” Huang said. “Some of them look like USB devices. Now there are some that look like draw strings on hoodies and some of them look like watches, I mean it’s very diabolical.”

Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price painted over billboards targeting minority communities with ads for menthol cigarettes in 1990. He sees vaping as a similar threat.

“So what’s the difference? I know what the difference is. It’s like opioids and everything else, it impacts a different community and so all of a sudden there’s an alert,” Price said.

County Judge Clay Jenkins warned parents to pay attention.

“Don’t let your kids vape under the theory that vaping is better than cigarettes. Neither is safe. Both are addictive and we know that this vaping is causing some severe life-threatening lung problems with our children.”