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Tips to prevent potentially harmful exposures to e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine |
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Discussions about tobacco and nicotine products usually focus on the harmful health effects from breathing in the toxic chemicals. But secondhand smoke is not the only concern we should have for our children and pets. The number of calls to poison control centers regarding nicotine is steadily rising since introduction of e-cigarettes/vape/ENDS.
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 *2020 numbers are current as of April 30, 2020. https://aapcc.org/track/ecigarettes-liquid-nicotine
Before e-cigarettes came on the market, poison control would get a few calls from children or pets who had eaten a cigarette or cigarette filter. Poisoning from e-liquid can occur from injection, inhalation, or absorption through the skin or eyes.
You can reach your local poison control center by calling the Poison Help hotline: 1-800-222-1222.
To save the number in your mobile phone, text POISON to 797979
There are a number of symptoms you want to watch for if you are worried about a possible nicotine overdose. Within the first 15 minutes to an hour of being exposed, symptoms would create a stimulating effect such as:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Stomachache and loss of appetite
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Headache
- Mouth watering
- Quick, heavy breathing
- Dizziness or tremors
- Confusion and anxiety
Within 30 minutes to up to four hours later, symptoms shift and include:
- Diarrhea
- Shallow breathing
- Slower heartbeat and blood pressure
- Extreme fatigue
- Weakness, slow reflexes, or unable to control muscles
- Pale skin
You will need to go to a hospital if your symptoms progress to include seizures, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, breathing difficulties or even coma. Additionally, if any of your symptoms suggest that you may be suffering from a pulmonary-related illness linked to vaping, you should contact your doctor immediately. (https://www.lung.org/blog/nic-sick)
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Tips to prevent potentially harmful exposures to e-cigarettes or liquid nicotine:
- Protect your skin when handling the products.
- Take special care to always keep any nicotine-containing product, including e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine, out of the reach of children and pets.
- Follow the specific disposal instructions on the label.
- If you think someone has been exposed in a dangerous way to an e-cigarette or liquid nicotine, call the Poison Help hotline at 1-800-222-1222 immediately.
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 Text “QUIT” to 47848
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 Text “ESP” to 47848
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 Text “VET” to 222888
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 Text “MOM” to 88709
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Want more tools and resources to be better equipped to highlight the health benefits of quitting? Below you will find links for free resources. |
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Maricopa County Department of Public Health is here to aid you in your efforts to support your patients in quitting.
We are here to provide resources and help with increasing your referrals to the ASHLine through training, research and materials for promoting cessation. Please reach out to us for support.
For more information, assistance with ASHLine referrals or to order materials click below:
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Safe Disposal of Prescription Drugs
Knowledge is a powerful tool in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Generally speaking, most people don’t intend to misuse or abuse opioids. The ones who fall victim to opioids usually lack the knowledge they need to understand the powerful effects of opioid medications and the impact they can have on one’s well-being. Others may just be naïve in their attempts to self-medicate. While some, such as children, may be indirectly harmed because a friend or family member didn’t store or dispose of their pills properly.
All of these preventable circumstances are reasons why healthcare providers have a duty to educate their patients…because that knowledge can save lives.
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How can I store my prescription medicine safely?
- Make sure your prescription medicine is stored in the original packaging with the safety lock tightened and secured.
- Second, secure your medicine. Keep your medicine in a place out of the reach of children and pets. Also, further secure any prescription narcotics like morphine, opioids, or codeine in a locked cabinet or drawer
- Check for expired medications and dispose of them properly.
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- 1 in 4 Young adults take prescription pain medications from their home medicine cabinet
- Half of all teens get prescription drugs from friends
- 1 in 6 Get prescription pain medications from an immediate family member or relative
Remember, when it comes to safe storage, especially around teens and young adults…availability equals access. A large number of patients who are prescribed opioids will never finish their full prescription. Yet, many of these patients with unused opioid analgesics plan to keep them. The FDA, however, recommends that patients always dispose of unused or expired opioids.
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How Can I Dispose of my Prescription Medications Safely?
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Free Online Module
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Free Online Module
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Free Online Module
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 The American Lung Association is pleased to share with you a series of brief, five-minute case studies to reinforce skills in spirometry. One case study will be released each week. The content will start basic and progressively get more difficult. The spirometry interpretation will focus on asthma, COPD, upper airway obstruction, vocal cord dysfunction, air trapping, and more. Register here.
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Getting Help for Opioid Misuse, Abuse or Dependence
Give the right resources for those seeking help for opioid misuse, abuse or dependence, that are available in their area. Click HERE to view more information.
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – is a widely practiced treatment for Opioid Use Disorder that combines medication with behavioral therapies. Arizona State University Center for Applied Behavioral Health Policy (ASU CABHP), has a great infographic showing data and results from a survey they developed and issued to medical providers, identifying their knowledge, perceptions, and experiences related to Medication-Assisted Treatment.
If you encounter a patient who shows signs of opioid misuse or mentions Naloxone, share this step by step guide. This guide will show your patient how to administer Naloxone here.
Deterra bags – A drug deactivation system to safely dispose of unused medications, thereby preventing drug misuse and protecting the environment
For more information visit the website or watch how the Deactivation system works here.
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