Attorney General Kwame Raoul urged Illinois residents to avoid using e-cigarette or vape devices following several reported instances of users becoming seriously ill and being hospitalized after using such products. In particular, children, young adults, pregnant women, and adults who do not currently use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes. Attorney General Raoul is urging Illinoisans to avoid using e-cigarette or vape products after nationwide reports of users being hospitalized. According to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), 27 cases have been reported in Chicago and Champaign, as well as Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, Madison, McHenry, Peoria, St. Clair, Tazewell, Will, and Winnebago counties. Cases involve individuals between the ages of 17 and 38 and have resulted in one fatality.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that many patients, including some in Illinois, reported vaping products containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) before experiencing symptoms. Although the reported illnesses have not been linked to any particular e-cigarette or vape product, no e-cigarette or vape product has been conclusively eliminated as a potential source of the illnesses.  Attorney General Raoul is encouraging Illinoisans who became ill after using e-cigarettes or vape products to file complaints on his website or by calling one of Raoul’s Consumer Fraud Hotlines: 1-800-386-5438, Chicago; 1-800-243-0618, Springfield; or 1-800-243-0607, Carbondale. For more information and free resources to help quit tobacco, please visit the Illinois Tobacco Quitline website or call 1-866-QUIT-YES.