Smoking e-cigarettes has been a rising trend for a few years; however, in the past year, one particular brand of e-cigs has taken over the entire market. This brand is called JUUL. These e-cigarettes are extremely small, and they actually resemble a flash drive (Chen). Although JUUL’s website denies that they are marketing to kids, and the website has age disclaimers, there has been an alarming rise of the use of JUUL e-cigs with teenagers. This essay explores how it is that JUUL attracts consumers, and the effects of smoking the JUUL upon the consumer. Part of the issue with the effects of the JUUL is that a younger consumer base is starting to use the JUUL, and the JUUL is basically a cigarette’s worth of nicotine in every pod.

The long-term effects of smoking or vaping the JUUL are not known at this point (Boston 25 News). Doctors are concerned for teen usage of the JUUL because the consumption of one JUUL “pod” is equivalent to the same level of nicotine in a pack of cigarettes (Chen). Therefore, although many think that vaping is less harmful than consuming cigarettes, the fact of the matter is that the ultimate damages have not been tested: “Vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol have both been approved as additives for food. There has not been sufficient testing on inhaling it but we know that a cigarette, an analog cigarette, has 60 percent known carcinogen” (Boston 25 News). Therefore, the effects of smoking or vaping a JUUL are similar to the effects of smoking a real cigarette. JUUL does not disagree or try to disguise their product as being nicotine-free; however, many kids who smoke the JUUL do not know about the nicotine content in the JUUL.

The effects of smoking the JUUL are much like that of smoking a cigarette because of the nicotine content. It seems that more kids are starting to smoke by using the JUUL than ever before, which is a statistic that is reversing from kids trying to stay healthy and away from smoking (Chen). An alarming number of high school students have JUUL devices because they are discreet and easy to use, and do not give off any type of odor (Chen). For these reasons, teens find it fun and easy to sneak a smoke off the JUUL while in class, sitting at their desk, when the teacher’s back is turned (Chen). JUUL denies that they attract a younger customer base. The marketing code includes that the product is not intended for youth, not for former smokers or people who have never smoked, it is not a cessation product, and they only feature models over the age of 35 (JUUL Labs). However, the many youths, estimated by one teenager to be 60% of high school kids, have a JUUL (Chen). Possibly, the variety of flavors are part of what is attracting the younger consumer (Chen).

JUUL is a nicotine product that effects the brain just as nicotine from a cigarette affects the brain. There are risks with adolescent neurodevelopment when nicotine is consumed. Plus, the consumption of the JUUL may serve as a gateway to more liberal exploration of drugs and alcohol. The seemingly safe ingredients of vegetable glycerin and propylene glycol are not tested for consumption when inhaled. The effects of the JUUL are basically the same as any cigarette, minus the conspicuousness. Therefore, the effects are more dangerous because of the increased use by adolescents with developing bodies and minds. The impact on the development of the adolescent’s body and mind has neurodevelopmental problems.