Dangers of Juuling

The “Juul,” a new e-cigarette, came to stores in July of 2017. It has become so popular since then that it has about 68% of the $2 billion e-cigarette market. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson, a Seattle pediatrician stated, “I do think this [Juuling] is one of the biggest threats to teen health right now.” The Juul is especially popular among children and young adults due to its sleek and discreet design, its ability to be recharged within one hour, and its liquid-filled cartridges that come in different flavors such as; cool mint, crème brulee, and fruit medley.

Here are some Juul or Juuling facts:

1. One Juul pod is equivalent to about one whole pack of cigarettes (or 200 puffs): This is more than what is in the typical e-cigarette.
2. Juul does not offer nicotine-free flavors, so many teens may not realize they are inhaling addictive nicotine.
3. In 2017 a Minnesota Department of Health survey reported that almost one in five of the state’s high school students had used a Juul in the past 30 days.
4. Side effects include: increased heart rate and blood pressure, lung disease, chronic bronchitis, and insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes.
5. The National Institute of Health recently discovered that tobacco and nicotine are the leading causes of preventable cancer.
6. Almost 60% of people who Juul are also smoking conventional cigarettes.
7. The presence of nicotine in your body affects your reproductive system by increasing the risk of infertility and miscarriages.

So how do you kick the habit? Unfortuneately, studies have not shown promising resultings for nicotine-replacement therpaies. While addiction experts suggest counseling is best for teens, programs and psychiatrists that specialize in treating teens are not readily available.