If you have never heard of a Juul, ask a teenager what it is. A Juul is a new e-cigarette device that fits in the palm of your hand. In videos all over social media, more teenagers are using this new vaping device at school.
“They can be at home, at school, at any place, plug it in, and no one would know.” said Dr. Mila Vascones-Gatski, a substance abuse counselor at Arlington Schools.
The Juul is a new e-cigarette that’s small enough to fit into a marker and resembles a usb flash drive.
Dr. Vascones-Gatski said, It has a cool factor–kids are attracted to it. It’s very easy to conceal. It doesn’t give much of a smell, so parents can’t detect it.”
Last year, she confiscated one e-cigarette in six months. This year, it’s two per week, and most are Juul.
Like many e-cigarettes, nicotine pods for Juul come in a catchy flavors like creme brulee and mango.
One pod is equivalent to smoking about one pack of cigarettes.
Doctor John Spangler, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, cautions that the long term effects of vaping are not known.
“Since nicotine alters the way the brain develops, we are concerned about adolescents and even young adults, using these products while there brain is still forming,” he explained.
On their website the makers of Juul say they are committed to combating underage use of their product. The company says its goal is to provide adult smokers an alternative to traditional cigarettes.
