Not only that, they found that current combustible cigarette smokers were at a lower risk of contracting the virus. That latter finding is rather puzzling until you consider something a bit esoteric that is frequently pointed out by Dr. Dmitry Kats: some of the nicotine in tobacco, upon combustion (and also in the liver to a degree), turns into nicotinic acid, better known as Niacin (Vitamin B3) which he notes seems to really work wonders in curing and preventing COVID. To achieve this same benefit without putting one's lungs in jeopardy, it would be better to simply take niacin directly, at least 500 mg at a time, along with cofactors Vitamin C (which gets depleted by smoking), Vitamin D, zinc, quercetin, thiamine (which also gets blocked by nicotine), B-12, magnesium, selenium, melatonin, and the amino acid lysine.
So why did a previous smaller study seem to find that (younger) vapers were more likely to get COVID than non-vapers? Well, smaller sample size can magnify any biases and confounders in a study, and one obvious bias is that younger vapers often share devices, which can clearly spread the virus. They may also be more likely to attend parties that can turn into superspreader events. But the act of vaping itself, while not exactly the healthiest habit in the world, does not appear to be directly causally linked to an increased risk of contracting the disease.
Interestingly, even that previous smaller study of teens and young adults only found a correlation with "ever used" vape products, but NO correlation with recent use. That is a rather strange finding for a study that purports to show a causal link to vaping.
As for the theory that people who got that mysterious vaping illness EVALI in 2019 and early 2020 were at greater risk of COVID later on, that may very well be true. But we know now that it was primarily the result of black market THC (i.e. cannabis) vape products adulterated with questionable additives, most notably Vitamin E acetate. And it is very telling that states where cannabis was legal for recreational sale in 2019 saw not only fewer per capita cases of EVALI than states where it was not, but also fewer COVID deaths as well. Ditto for countries where cannabis was and still is fully legal (Canada, Uruguay) as well as where it is de facto legal (Netherlands) compared to their neighbors where it was not. Thus, the lingering subtle lung damage from using tainted vapes several months prior may very well increase one's susceptibility to severe and fatal COVID, meaning that the cannabis prohibitionists whose policies created these black markets may have even way more blood on their hands than we thought.
But legal and untainted vape products, whether nicotine, cannabis, or otherwise? The evidence that they significantly increase the risk of COVID simply isn't there, period. Another myth bites the dust.
There is no correlation between vaping and Coronavirus. The symptoms of the illnesses related to vaping were because of counterfeit vaping substances put into the vaping devices. Sometimes it was because of substances which were not meant to be put into vaping devices, such as Vitamin E, which causes severe symptoms. There is absolutely no correlation between the illnesses related to vaping which were seen a few years ago and the current pandemic.
ReplyDeleteThe judicial branch is the most logical way in lowering the drinking age to 18. The public is too set in its ageist attitudes against young adults who are 18-20 years old. The media and organizations are serious opponents in getting a drinking age of 18.
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Delete18-20 is just treated as "probationary adulthood" now.
DeleteI'm 20, and I'm certainly looking forward to being released soon enough.
DeleteJust had 20-year-old marines unfortunately lose their lives in Kabul, one whom was married and expecting a child. Still wasn't old enough to legally drink.
DeleteSome may say "what's the big deal you'll be 21 in just a matter of months!" but it's the principle.
DeleteExactly. There's no excuse for discrimination against young adults who are 18-20 years old, even if there are months until they are 21 years old.
DeleteI was your age when I discovered that the law was wrong and I never let go of my hatred and probably never will.
DeleteWe are a nation in decay and I don't see a way out.
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ReplyDeleteI don't know, it's just that when you hear the rationale it always about "protection" or "you're still developing" but protecting me from what exactly? myself? If you wanted to protect young adults then 20-year-olds should have no business being involved in wars or being allowed to take on insurmountable debt. We wouldn't be allowed to drive cars anymore since many die from car accidents every year but it's a risk we accept. We wouldn't be allowed to buy guns or work in the porn industry. We wouldn't be allowed to work in dangerous jobs with. We wouldn't be allowed to consent to sex or choose to marry. We wouldn't be automatically tried as adults in court. When you realize all the responsibilities we are allowed to undertake, the whole protection thing is BS. Maybe I shouldn't complain and be glad that I still have some agency.
ReplyDeleteAnd the funny thing is that I'm still allowed to vote for the very same politicians who advocate for taking my rights away. Heck, in my state I'm allowed to run as a candidate for the state legislature and sit among the very same legislators that would advocate for taking my rights away.
ReplyDeleteThis topic is the lowest on the rung of priorities, but one day there has to be a national discussion. Are we adults at 18 or not? Preferably, your life should be your own when you finish high school. But the idea is to have consistency. If adulthood is 18, then there should not be "You're an adult, except......" If it's the other arbitrary 21, same concept applies. It's okay to allow for some privileges before that official threshold of majority, but when I reach it all rights apply and not one day later.
ReplyDeleteWe choose these numbers based on political/societal convenience. Want to advance gun control but can't seem to accomplish passing other restrictions? Let's start by raising the age you can buy any gun to 21. Want to chip away at the vaping industry? sorry can't buy Mango flavored pods until 21 but you can totally die for oil profits overseas at 18. Just don't have a beer once you come back from deployment. However, because we are short staffed at the local bar you can serve and pour us liquor at 18. Remember that even though you're a "minor" for the purposes of consumption, we'll charge you as an adult for being in posession of alcohol as a minor where we'll fine or even arrest you, take your driver's license away, make you complete classes and do community service while a 17-year-old just gets picked up by his or her parents.
DeleteIt is tyranny.
Delete@grantma808, At 18, although young, I definitely think you’re an adult. If you can serve your country and vote, you’re not a child. Here in Alberta, Canada the age to drink, smoke (tobacco & marijuana), gamble, vote, own a gun, etc. is 18. One age for nearly everything.
ReplyDeleteThis is why Canada gets things right.
DeleteIn terms of how we deal with the issue of young people and controlled substances, sure. Although they’re trying to take vapour products off the market here too.
DeleteAnd three provinces have completely banned the sale of flavored vape products. (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island).
DeleteStill, Canada acknowledges and respects the civil rights and civil liberties of young adults who are of the age of majority. Meanwhile in the U.S., ageist attitudes are used to justify ageist laws and rules. It is the norm in the U.S.
DeleteWell, personally I just think it’s a waste of police resources to keep policing a crowd that’s most likely going to take up drinking, especially if they’re attending university. Instead of having to hide from authorities, they can sit down in a bar where drinking is a bit more monitored (since you can’t serve visibly intoxicated persons) and it encourages responsible use of alcohol and doesn’t push it underground where if anything happens to them it’ll delay immediate assistance.
DeleteDrunk driving will always be a problem, but young adults know the severe penalties that await them if they act irresponsibility. Actually in some provinces (notably Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan) you may not operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol if you’re under 21 or 22. Zero blood alcohol level or get a licence suspension. We don’t have those restrictions (yet) in AB. (As long as you’re over 18 and keep under 0.05 BAC) you’re ok. Some view it as a trade off, you get to drink when you’re 21 but that means you give up your car keys when you do.
Very well-said. I have long thought that Alberta has the right idea across the board. 18 across the board, or rather no higher than 18 for anything. Their driving age of 14, similar to North Dakota's, is a bit risky IMHO, and I personally think that should be 16 for permit and 17 for license as that combo seems to save the most lives overall in the long run regardless of anything. See Australia for example, and even the most unlikely role model, New Jersey (albeit only for young people). But otherwise, I think Alberta has it right 100%. Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, gambling, and even guns, all of it 18.
DeleteCanada over has generally been stricter than the USA when it came to lockdowns and related restrictions more recently (though during the first wave, the reverse was actually true, and it did not make Canada worse off), including Alberta. But now Alberta and pretty much all of Western Canada seems to be one of the freest places in the world now, while most of Eastern Canada, especially Ontario, is still under the jackboot to this day.
The driving age of 14 was most likely chosen to accommodate the more rural parts of the province, (I imagine the same for North Dakota) but of course you don’t get to drive alone at 14. Similar to the states, we have Graduated Driver Licensing. It takes three years to get your full licence if you get your learner’s licence (permit) at 15. If you get it at 14, then you spend four years in the program. After 1 or 2 years (depending on the age you got your permit) you can take the road test for your provisional licence at 16. You can now drive alone at this age. There’s no curfew or passenger restrictions but you must keep a zero blood alcohol level and your licence can be suspended with fewer points violations and you can’t be a supervisor for learner drivers.
DeleteOnce you turn 18, you can get your full unrestricted licence so long as you pass the Advanced Road Test (about 45 minutes to an hour long). If your not bothered by the alcohol and points restriction, you can actually just keep your provisional and not bother going for the full but if you’re interested in traveling out of the province you may reconsider.
Lockdowns have been a living hell to put it nicely, and although Alberta hasn’t been as draconian they’re not afraid to reverse course especially if cases rise again. Vaccination rates are relatively high still.
Outside of the larger cities of Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Fort McMurray) public transportation becomes less available so that’s why you can get your licence earlier as well.
DeleteAnd those under 18, have to get parental permission to apply to start the process of getting their licence so parents can have a say in when they think kids are ready for the road. Young drivers also pay more for car insurance and you can’t rent cars before 20-21 (depending on the rental company) and you’re not going to escape paying extra fees if you’re under 25.
DeleteOK that makes sense. Getting one's license, and especially the road test itself, in Alberta sounds almost as hard as the British road test, unlike the American five-minute joke in a parking lot in most states where literally the hardest part is the parallel parking. That it probably the very first thing that should change in the USA when it comes to driving!
DeleteAge would thus become much less significant a factor then IMHO.
By the way, I just saw that Alberta is unfortunately reversing course and reimposing COVID restrictions now, including vaccine passports. Hopefully it will be temporary, but I have a sinking feeling that it won't be.
Yeah the basic road test for your probationary (provisional) licence is not so difficult. It’s slightly more more demanding than your typical American road test and takes a bit more time.
DeleteThe basic test includes identifying and operating your vehicle's controls. This includes:
handling the vehicle (steering, braking and speed control)
selecting the proper lane for turns
observing and obeying speed zones
determining right of way at intersections and while changing lanes
demonstrating knowledge and skill at intersections with and without sign and signal controls
interacting with other road users in a non-obstructive manner
parking – perpendicular, uphill or downhill parking, and parallel (drivers over 65 are not required to complete a parallel park)
Test is approximately 25-30 minutes.
As stated, after two years you can take the advanced road test as long as you haven’t had any licence suspensions within the past 12 months.
The Advanced Road Test will demand showing the same competency from the basic road test including knowing how to navigate:
a variety of intersection types, including uncontrolled 'T' intersections
high speed roadways of 80 to 100 km/hr (50 mph to 62 mph)
merging on the highway, with acceleration and deceleration lanes
high volume traffic areas
parking – an angle or perpendicular park. The advanced test does include a parallel and hill park
But many adults 20+ still have their probationary licence and don’t bother doing the last test. People let the word “Advanced” scare them and forget all the skills they have used prior to then.
Of course road tests are conducted differently province by province.
DeleteAnd yes it’s either businesses implement a vaccine passport or face capacity and other restrictions.
Deletehttps://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-public-health-actions.aspx
DeleteCorrection: You get to drink under 21.
ReplyDeleteSame concept with cannabis. There’s a lot of research and debates about potential harms of using the substance heavily before 25. We allow the purchase and consumption of it at 18 because we know that prohibition will cause more harm in the end. We’d rather an 18-year-old purchase from a reputable place where the products are tested, they can be advised on strains and potency instead of putting that young person in harm’s way dealing with someone that might be laced with God knows what else. Educating people and then allowing them the freedom to make an informed decision than just saying NO.
ReplyDeleteVery well-said. Justin Trudeau, love him or hate him, made pretty much this exact same argument for why the age limit for cannabis should be 18. Only Alberta and Quebec seemed to get the memo though, and Quebec then raised it to 21 in 2020 (all other provinces 19, still better than 21 though).
DeleteIf only the U.S. had elected officials like Trudeau.
Delete