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Thrive! Journal - Edition 3
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Juuling: What is it and why you should care |
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Juul was literally not a thing three years ago; now it is used by millions of teens around the country and is a verb. Juul is an e-cigarette that came onto the market in 2015 and as of August has over 70% of the market. There are many articles out there talking about how Juuls work, the health considerations, the trends, the lawsuits and government investigations against them, etc. To help you understand this trend as you minister I am distilling some of that content into bullet points.
- Juuling, Vaping, or using any e-cigarette is an electronic delivery system for vaporizing chemicals-including nicotine-to be inhaled. Many people, especially young people assume that the vapor is mostly water which it isn't.
- While Juul is a type of e-cigarette, it is by far the most prevalent, preferred, and trendy.
- Juul looks like a usb flashdrive.
- Juul was created and marketed as a device to help people stop smoking. It is considered 60%-95% healthier than traditional combustable cigarettes since you inhale fewer carcinogens (numbers vary based on source).
- Young people, as a whole, don't view smoking favorably. They know it isn't good for them and don't like the stigma, smell, bad breath, etc. This stigma doesn't cary over to Juuling.
- While many of the risks associated with traditional combustable cigarettes are eliminated with e-cigarettes, other additional health risks are present. Not enough studies are available to have conclusive data on these risks, but things like "popcorn lung" are starting to be found.
- Juul pioneered technology to deliver the nicotine in a way (nicotine salts) that allows for a higher nicotine level with less of the harsh feel to your lungs that is associated with smoking or other e-cigarettes.
- While there is not any actual tobacco in vaping, it does include nicotine which is derived from the tobacco plant. As such. it is regulated by the FDA as a tobacco product. However, the language of most laws is such that it doesn't cover e-cigarettes.
- You have to be 18 to purchase.
- Juul pods (the liquid you purchase to be turned into vapor) come in a variety flavors. Flavored cigarettes are illegal because of how enticing they are to minors; Juul can only do this because of the loopholes governing tobacco mentioned above. One study showed that over 75% of teens and young adults would stop vaping if flavors were not available.
- Juul has taken social media by storm and is starting to permeate popular media which will fuel further growth of underage usage.
- Juul says that it has never targeted young people but the government is investigating this because many think they intentionally used social media and traditional marketing to get young people addicted.
- Due to their small size they are easy to hide.
- Schools are struggling with how to keep these out of young people's hands. Almost 20% of NYC school students have used e-cigarettes.
- Nicotine is particularly harmful to the developing brain and poses more risks to those under 25 than to others.
- Most young people see Juuling as morally neutral and don't see reason not to do it.
Update: Here is a piece recently released by Axis' "The Culture Translator" that might be helpful
"Debunking the Vaping Myth
What it is: A new study by the American Physiological Societysignificantly debunks the myth that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes.
Why you have to talk about it: FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says, “E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous--and dangerous--trend among teens.” Due in large part to the mythic narrative that vaping is safe. This recent research shows that not only vapor harms the lungs, but the added flavor in e-cigs exacerbates the detrimental impact of vaping. It’s a double whammy. Your teens probably believe e-cigs are safe and more significantly they may be drawn to them because vaping just looks cool. Here’re some great tips on how to talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping and smoking."
"Debunking the Vaping Myth
What it is: A new study by the American Physiological Societysignificantly debunks the myth that e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes.
Why you have to talk about it: FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb says, “E-cigs have become an almost ubiquitous--and dangerous--trend among teens.” Due in large part to the mythic narrative that vaping is safe. This recent research shows that not only vapor harms the lungs, but the added flavor in e-cigs exacerbates the detrimental impact of vaping. It’s a double whammy. Your teens probably believe e-cigs are safe and more significantly they may be drawn to them because vaping just looks cool. Here’re some great tips on how to talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping and smoking."
Articles for more information
...AKA where I got all of the information above
Juul, the vape device teens are getting hooked on, explained
The Vape Debate: What You Need to KnowIs
JUULing, The Cool Kid Accessory Of Choice, Going To Make It To Television?
Did Juul Lure Teenagers and Get ‘Customers for Life’?
How Juul Exploited Teens’ Brains to Hook Them on Nicotine
Juul, the vape device teens are getting hooked on, explained
The Vape Debate: What You Need to KnowIs
JUULing, The Cool Kid Accessory Of Choice, Going To Make It To Television?
Did Juul Lure Teenagers and Get ‘Customers for Life’?
How Juul Exploited Teens’ Brains to Hook Them on Nicotine
