Teens May be Particularly Susceptible to JUUL Nicotine Addiction, Study Warns

In the midst of the teen vaping epidemic sweeping the nation, new research indicates that teens may be especially vulnerable to developing a nicotine addiction from JUUL e-cigarettes due to the way the vape pens have been designed and marketed by their manufacturer. If you or a loved one has suffered a nicotine addiction or another alleged JUUL e-cigarette side effect, you may be able to pursue damages from JUUL Labs for your losses. Contact an experienced JUUL addiction attorney as soon as possible to determine whether you are eligible for compensation through a product liability lawsuit.

E-Cigarette Use in the United States

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes as they are commonly called, were originally marketed as an alternative to traditional combustible cigarettes. With the introduction of JUUL vape pens and flavored pods that appeal to younger users, however, e-cigarettes have now become the most commonly used tobacco product among teens and youth. In fact, the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey indicates that e-cigarette use more than doubled among high school students and tripled among middle school students from 2017 to 2019. And according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 70% of youth e-cigarette users say they use e-cigarettes because they come in flavors they like. The makers of JUUL claim that their devices are not only safe, they are safer than smoking cigarettes. In reality, e-cigarettes contain nicotine and other chemicals that are known to damage health and JUUL vape pens have more than twice the amount of nicotine concentrate as many other e-cigarette brands.

Safety of JUUL Vape Pens Questioned

There have been a number of studies conducted in recent years looking at the safety of e-cigarettes like JUUL, the effect they have had on teen nicotine use and addiction in the U.S., and the ways in which these products are designed and marketed to consumers. The makers of JUUL vape pens in particular have faced significant scrutiny because their e-cigarette devices resemble USB thumb drives and come in a variety of kid-friendly flavors, which makes them more attractive to young users. JUUL vape pens have also been aggressively marketed to young users for years, through the use of alluring, youth-oriented advertisements. What many youth e-cigarette users don’t know, however, is that one JUUL cartridge, called a pod, contains roughly as much as nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes.

In this latest e-cigarette study, published this week in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from Harvard conducted a systematic review of pod-based e-cigarettes and their potential association with youth and young adult health. The researchers found that pod-based e-cigarettes like JUUL enhance the delivery of nicotine and therefore have a greater dependence potential. They also noted that the epidemic of teen e-cigarette use in the United States can be attributed to aggressive marketing techniques on the part of e-cigarette manufacturers, convenient e-cigarette product features and the fact that e-cigarette use has become socially acceptable. “The appeal and dependence potential of pod-based e-cigarettes for youth emphasize the need for stronger regulations on product design, social media, marketing channels, and youth access together with health communications that emphasize the risks of nicotine dependence,” the researchers concluded.

JUUL Accused of Making False Claims About E-Cig Safety

There is no doubt that the widespread popularity of JUUL e-cigarettes is due at least in part to the company’s aggressive efforts to market the devices to youth. In September 2019, the FDA issued a warning letter to JUUL Labs, accusing the company of making false claims about the safety of JUUL e-cigarettes in labeling, advertising and other activities directed at consumers. In the letter, the FDA indicated that a JUUL representative speaking with students at a presentation incorrectly stated, among other things, that JUUL “was much safer than cigarettes” and that “FDA would approve it any day.” In January 2020, as part of an effort to make potentially harmful e-cigarettes less enticing to teens and young adults, the FDA announced a ban on flavored e-cigarette products that appeal to children, including fruit and mint flavors.

Pursuing Compensation for E-Cigarette Injuries

Hundreds of individuals who have developed lifelong addictions to nicotine from regular JUUL use are now pursuing product liability lawsuits against JUUL Labs, accusing the company of making false and misleading statements about the safety of JUUL vape pens and aggressively marketing the devices to teens and young adults. If you developed a nicotine addiction from using JUUL vape pens or if a loved one has suffered a serious e-cigarette side effect, contact a knowledgeable JUUL injury attorney today for legal help. With a reputable product liability lawyer on your side, you can improve your chances of recovering the compensation you deserve for your alleged e-cigarette injuries and losses.