Smoking rates among teenagers and young adults had been on a steady decline for decades until the introduction of e-cigarettes caused a sharp reversal of the trend in recent years. JUUL, one of the most popular brands of e-cigarettes, is considered a major factor in that reversal.
In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that cigarette smoking was at an all-time low among U.S. high school students. However, e-cigarette usage was already increasing significantly at that time. According to the CDC, just 1.5 percent of high school students used e-cigarettes in 2011. By 2017, it says that number increased to 11.7 percent, and it increased again in 2018 to 20.8 percent.
Talk to a JUUL injury lawyer at Ponce Law about your legal rights and options. Schedule a consultation with one of our knowledgeable product liability attorneys today.
JUUL’s marketing campaigns are primarily social media-based, making it easy for them to reach large numbers of teenagers. In addition, their product designs are appealing to young people. Their e-cigarettes are sleek, low-profile, and easily hidden. They can be concealed in pockets, purses, and even passed off as USB devices in academic settings.
Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes like JUUL produce mild odors, which aren’t always detectable by others. In addition, they produce easily inhaled vapors that are flavored with sweet-tasting additives. Finally, they use specially designed nicotine salts to intensify their effects on users. The combination of those factors makes JUUL products especially appealing and addictive to young people, as they can be used discretely in public and even at school.
Because the human brain doesn’t stop developing until around the age of 25, it’s susceptible to many types of damage during youth and young adulthood. The CDC says that nicotine is known to cause changes in developing brains, especially in the areas that control attention span, learning capacity, moods, and impulse control. It’s also known to impact the formation of synapses between neurons, which can intensify its addictive properties.
E-cigarettes like JUUL pose other threats to users as well. The additives used in the chemicals that produce nicotine-containing vapors can damage users’ lungs, and some users have been injured and seriously burned by exploding devices or devices that become superheated and catch fire. Additional injuries that have been reported include seizures, strokes, heart attacks, heart problems, psychological disturbances, and even suicide attempts.
JUUL’s manufacturer knowingly markets its products to adolescents and young adults, putting their health and their futures in danger. Our legal team believes that it should be held accountable for the harm that JUUL e-cigarettes cause to their young user base, including the risk of addiction, disease, and physical injuries.
If you or someone you love uses or used JUUL products as a teenager or young adult, you may be eligible for compensation if you suffered an injury, became addicted to nicotine, or switched to traditional cigarettes or other nicotine-containing products. A JUUL injury lawyer at Ponce Law is ready to stand up for your rights, and we want to speak with you about your potential case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
JUUL is a registered trademark of Juul Labs, Inc.
This law firm is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Juul Labs, Inc.
