Hanoi man rendered comatose after smoking drug-laced e-cigarettes

The 20-year-old man had previously been taken to the Bach Mai Hospital last year for e-cigarette poisoning.

This time, the patient suffered from brain and heart injuries, as well as kidney failure. It has not been confirmed how the patient bought and used the e-cigarette.

Nguyen Trung Nguyen, director of the Poison Control center at the hospital, told VnExpress this week the case was one among many who were hospitalized for using e-cigarettes laced with drugs.

Common symptoms include convulsions, hallucinations, loss of control over one’s behaviors and brain injuries, among others.

More than one type of drugs are now being laced in e-cigarettes based on recent samples, unlike just one type in the past.

"The juice used in e-cigarettes contains nicotine and other harmful substances. When mixed with other substances, including stimulants and narcotics, the consequences cannot be foreseen," Nguyen said, adding that most users of these e-cigarettes were young people.

Back in July last year, a 22-year-old man was also hospitalized at Bach Mai in a critical condition due to smoking e-cigarettes laced with four different drugs.

Nguyen Trong Khoa, deputy head of the Department of Medical Service Administration, said the rate of e-cigarette usage has been rising high within the past five years. Despite the fact that these products are not allowed to be imported, they are easily accessible.

"The risk of drug usage always goes hand-in-hand with e-cigarette usage," Khoa said.

The Ministry of Health is now requesting the National Assembly and the government to issue regulations for a total ban on e-cigarettes.