Should We JUUDGE JUULs?

If you don’t know what a JUUL is, it’s time to wake up. JUULs are the new “hype” thing that everyone is talking about. Vape pens or electronic cigarettes are widely used around the world, but the brand JUUL takes these pieces of technology to a whole new level. JUULs are known for their “simple interface, flavor variety and lack of lingering smell.” They are aesthetically pleasing, easy to bring around, and very simple to use, which is what I believe to be part of the problem.

Electronic cigarettes work by heating up liquid which generates vapor that is smoked by the user. However, cigarettes work by igniting tobacco which generates smoke that is inhaled by the user. The “juice” in e-cigarettes consists of nicotine and additional flavoring which imitates the tobacco used in cigarettes. While not all “juices” contain nicotine, more than 90% of products sold contain some level of nicotine (Dawkins). 

JUULs and other electronic cigarette brands claim to be an amazing alternative to cigarettes, and for the most part, that is true. While nicotine is what makes smoking addictive, smoking tobacco has many other negative effects. Both carbon monoxide and tar are found in the smoke of tobacco and they are two substances that are considered poisonous to the lungs (Medical News Today). Electronic cigarettes, on the other hand, do not contain these substances as the liquids are heated and what is inhaled is vapor and not smoke. This is in no way arguing that electronic cigarettes are good for the body. They are still detrimental to your health, but they are just not as detrimental as cigarettes are. 

That being said, I believe that electronic cigarettes (JUULs especially) have done more harm than good. According to the National Center for Health Research, the amount of teenagers who have tried an electronic cigarette of some sort has quadrupled, from 5% in 2011 to 19% in 2015. In a survey they conducted, 1 in 5 middle schoolers who had tried electronic cigarettes said they had never smoked cigarettes. This shows just how widely accepted the use of electronic cigarettes has become and it is almost as if these electronic cigarettes have become “normalized” in the eyes of teenagers and children. The use of these types of cigarettes amongst teens are described as “worrisome” and there are plenty of reasons to back up this statement. Studies conducted by the National Center for Health Research show that a nicotine addiction develops easily and can harm the development of the brain. They also show that the younger the smoker, the more likely smoking would become a habit/addiction (National Center for Health Research). 

Because JUULs have been popularized and normalized in our society, the invisible yet harmful effects are often disregarded. Especially amongst youths, this will continue to be a growing problem that needs to be addressed. While JUULs are a great alternative to conventional cigarettes, they have been introduced to children as young as 12 years old which is extremely concerning for the future of our society.