BEND, OR -- Nationwide investigations are underway into the deaths and illnesses of people who were vaping marijuana, tobacco or, tobacco flavored products. Dr Ryan Nelson is a Pulomonolgist at Saint Charles and says when the vaping devices first came out, many people thought they would be a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. Nelson says what researchers are trying to figure out is, what is in the vaping device that causes harm. Nelson says the illnesses and deaths are not seen among traditional marijuana and cigarette users. This has led researchers to view the device itself, not what is put in it, as the cause of the health problems.