JUUL E-cigarettes and Youth: What You Need to Know
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is increasing efforts to help keep young people from using tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).JUUL brand e-cigarettes look like a USB flash drive and deliver an aerosol mix of chemicals, nicotine, and flavoring to the user. They are the top-selling e-cigarette brand, and according to news reports and social media posts, students are using them in locations such as classrooms and school bathrooms.
The FDA has sent warning letters to more than 40 retailers that sell JUULs and other similar products, including gas stations, convenience stores, and online sellers including eBay, saying they broke the law that prevents selling the products to kids under age 21. The agency also ordered JUUL Labs to turn over documents about product marketing and research on the health effects, to find out if the company is marketing its products in ways that are misleading or target youth.
The products include those with fruit, candy, and other flavors that may appeal to kids. "Juuling" has become its own thing in youth culture - with countless reports of students sneaking drags in class, school bathrooms, and everywhere in between.
Studies have found that most kids are not aware of the potential risks they face by using e-cigarettes, including JUULs.
Q: Why do JUULs appeal to youth?
A: JUULs are made to resemble flash drives. They have a high tech feel and appearance, and both the product itself and the marketing of it make it look very cool. In comparison with some other e-cigarettes, JUULs are harder to detect. They’re small and can be hidden in the palm of the hand, and they emit little visible aerosol. Kids are known to be using them in school restrooms and even in the classroom. They come in flavors advertised as fruit medley, cool mint, and crème brulee.
Q: What risks do JUULs pose for kids?
A: JUULs deliver a higher concentration of nicotine than some other types of e-cigarettes. Some kids do not even know that JUULs contain nicotine. They don’t understand they are being exposed to an addictive drug that also can harm a young person’s brain development on e-cigarettes and youth. The brain is still developing well into the mid-20s and even beyond, so health concerns apply not only to teens, but also to college-age users. Some kids are reported to have become physically dependent on nicotine, and are using JUULs not just recreationally, but also compulsively, to sustain what has turned into a drug problem. You can inhale a whole package worth of nicotine without even thinking twice.
Side effects include coughing, dry or sore throat, dizziness, nausea or stomach ache, and headaches. While e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco products, JUULs still contain chemicals and nicotine and should be treated with the same caution and concern as cigarettes.smoking at a younger age can damage your prefrontal cortex performance and suffer memory and attention issues as a result of regular use.
Additionally, a major concern (specifically for teenage users) of experts has been the highly addictive nature of nicotine - which, according to reports, is the reason why 85% of users who try to quit smoking relapse.
Q: What can be done?
A: The public health community, including ACS CAN, is working to require responsible industry behavior. That includes manufacturers, retailers, and online purveyors while providing better education to the public and decision makers.
-Veronika
Sraders, A. (2018, October 04). What Is Juul and Is It Bad for You? Retrieved from https://www.thestreet.com/lifestyle/health/what-is-juul-14732885