Juuling
What is Juuling?
The Juul is a trendy vape that resembles a flash drive. Because of their discreet design they are often not even recognized as an e-cigarette.
The term “Juuling” usually refers to the recreational use of Juuls.
Juuling has accounted for 33% of the e-cigarette market as of late 2017.
The product is made for, and is only legally available to, adults 18 years and older. Use among 18-24 year olds is mainly accounting for its popularity, however, teens are also illegally obtaining and using these vapes as well.
What is the appeal for teens?
Juuls have a discreet design which makes it easily mistaken for a flash drive (it can be charged in a laptop USB port) and hard to recognize as an e-cigarette. This makes it easy for students to conceal and use in school.
Juul flavor pods come in flavors like crème brulee, cool cucumber and mango.
Marketing tactics are targeting kids and teens.
Teens have easy access to buying Juuls, as they purchase them online by lying about their age and using a prepaid debit card.
What is the concern about Juuling?
While Juuls are not made with tar and other cancer-causing chemicals that a tobacco cigarette has, that does not mean they are safe to use. The nicotine itself can have major effects. Juul Lab issued a statement that said: "JUUL Labs’ mission is to eliminate cigarette smoking by offering existing adult smokers a true alternative to combustible cigarettes. JUUL is not intended for anyone else. We strongly condemn the use of our product by minors, and it is in fact illegal to sell our product to minors. No minor should be in possession of a JUUL product.”
Increases the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health.
One Juul pod contains as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes, according to the company’s website. Given that nicotine is extremely addictive and can alter brain chemistry so the brain doesn’t function normally without it, makes Juuling especially harmful for teens whose brains are still developing.
Research has shown nicotine to be a gateway drug, as teens who start with e-cigarettes are more likely to move onto regular cigarettes, which put them at risk for all types of serious health issues.
A 2016 study suggested that the flavoring agents used in Juuls may also cause popcorn lung, a respiratory condition first seen in people working in factories that make microwave popcorn.
Because e-cigarettes are so new, there are still a lot of unknowns about long-term health risks of using various types of e-cigarettes.
For more information on e-cigarettes, read the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) article E-Cigarettes and young People: A Public Health Concern, as well as the article The Facts on E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults.
