In past generations, cigarette smoking was seen seen as a sign of “coolness” and a societal norm that everyone partook in. It is well known that the use of tobacco products has been around for many years and with any product that is produced, there is always a system of capitalism involved. It has been argued that “Big Tobacco” companies are a profit-based system based upon the notion of addiction. This system uses an addiction to nicotine to get people hooked.
As medical research has advanced, we have learned the negative effects of tobacco that has linked a system of capitalism to the cause of many deaths around the world. It is hard to break an addiction once it is started, but since we have learned the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes, many companies have created alternatives that help “solve this problem” of people being killed by these products. Juuling and e-cigarettes are presented as an alternative to help former smokers stop smoking, but at the same time they get former smokers to consume this new product by including nicotine in them.
Juuls are a danger to the public health of the youth and Juuls contain the same amount, if not more nicotine than a traditional cigarette. Nicotine can ultimately harm the brain development of a growing teen.
This product is not always being used for its intended purpose. While these products were specifically created to help stop an addiction, they have used marketing tactics to target young children to pick up a habit.
The e-cigarette industry has become an economic powerhouse due to the fact that they have been gaining consumers at all ages, “The e-cigarette industry has surged in popularity with juul leading the pact, increasing its revenue by 700% last year”. Juuling has become popular within youth culture and they have become an accessory of many students within schools. A Juul is your hand is equivalent to having an iPhone. Kids think that having a Juul is something that makes them look cool and that everyone is doing it. Hashtags like “#doitforjuul” and memes has become popular online. I was shocked to find out that Juul use was prevalent in my brother’s middle school bathroom, when my mom called me and asked me what a “Juul” was. She told me that the school sent a note home explaining to parents that they need to check their children’s bags for the device.
What many kids don’t realize is that juuling is a gateway to using traditional cigarettes. Juuls appeal to kids because of their their slim USB looking design, which makes it easy to hide in schools and from their parents. In addition, the vapor comes in fruit/candy flavors that appeal to kids. Many kids think it’s safe to consume because they believe they are just inhaling water vapor, but in fact they are bringing on a nicotine addiction for themselves.
The FDA has discovered data that indicates there has been an increase of consumption by youth consumers of Juuls and similar products, which ultimately leads to addiction. The FDA commissioner,Scott Gottlieb has now issued the use of Juuls as an “epidemic”. The FDA has made a recent decision to crack down on the marketing features of these products by banning the flavors of juul pods being sold in stores(with the exception of mint and menthol). In addition, the FDA will set up verification measures so that it will be hard for underage consumers to buy the flavor pods online.
At the same time, Juul and other e-cigarette companies deny that they are directly targeting the youth and they are not responsible for the popularity of its use on social media as well as in everyday life. These companies claim that it is not their fault that non-smokers are attracted to the idea of owning a Juul.
The problem is that the industry is trying to prevent one problem (people killing themselves by cigarette us), while bringing about another problem and getting the youth involved (getting kids addicted to nicotine). There has also been backlash by the community of former smokers who are upset about the ban on the flavor pods because that’s what attracted them to switching over to using this device in the first place.
There is also a debate that can be brought up about the political implications of the government agencies taking a stand against this product and monitoring their marketing tactics towards youth.
It is now argued that restrictions being placed on Juul are faster than gun control. Yes, Juuls can lead to cigarette and tobacco use which can ultimately kill a child. However, it is being seen as an “epidemic” in schools, but what about the rise of school shootings in the past few years? The gun industry targets youth through violent video games. Why aren’t those being restricted? “Still, there is something strange, and tragic, and ultra-American, about the fact that, in many states, it will be harder for an eighteen-year-old to buy a mango Juul pod than to buy a gun”. The future question that remains is what conversations will this lead to because the Juul isn’t nearly as harmful as owning a gun or bringing a gun to school.
-S.L.
Mental Health and Addictions 