JUUL E-Cigarette Use Rises Among Young Adults

Juul devices target youth

USA – Reuters writes that JUUL devices became more popular with young adults in the United States ever since the beginning of 2018. A major part of the reason for the product’s growing popularity is that these products have been advertised and are perceived as being less hazardous to a person’s health than traditional cigarettes. Because of the belief that e-cigarettes are safer, many new users are people who never smoked in the first place.

JUUL is the market leader for these products and currently accounts for about two-thirds of all e-cigarette product sales. The device’s popularity with young people and its dominance in the market make it an important subject for studying the impact of intervention efforts.

Studies continue to show an increase in the use of JUUL products among young Americans and indicate that the product is extremely addictive. It is difficult to know what the effects will be on users over the long-term, especially because there is a great deal of variation in the pods, flavors, and products. With so many types of products, it is hard to say what actual risks e-cigarettes create. A recent outbreak of vaping-related illness indicates that in some instances, the consequences of vaping can be fatal.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently banned many vaping products, including many flavored pods, as these have proven to be particularly attractive to minors.

Despite growing concerns over the risks of vaping, the use of JUUL e-cigarettes increased rapidly between 2018 and 2019. The rising popularity and acceptance of e-cigarettes underscore the need to study and regulate the products. Additional efforts are needed to reduce the appeal of JUUL products to young people as an effort to protect the most vulnerable members of society from illness and addiction.