What Parents and Students Need to Know About JUULing

 

As a parent, it can be overwhelming to keep up with the potential dangers that our kids could experience while they are navigating adolescents.

Generations of teenagers have always found a way to rebel in an unhealthy way but we can’t overlook the growing popularity of e-cigarettes, such as vaping and JUULing among teenagers and its negative effects impacting users within a short amount of time.

This article is brought to you in partnership with St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

I recently attended an assembly at a local High School where Joyce Jacobs, a tobacco treatment specialist shared more about the dangers and facts about e-cigarettes, vapes or JUUL’s.

I honestly didn’t know very much about e-cigarettes, vapes or JUUL’s prior to the assembly. I’ve seen people using these products in the general public but I don’t come from a family with a history of smoking which is why it’s so important to be informed.

The state of Kentucky is in the “tobacco belt” and has a higher national percentage of smokers with 26% and over 15% of youth using cigarettes.

What Are E-Cigarettes?

E-cigarettes, vapes or JUUL’s are battery-powered devices that heat an e-liquid that often contains nicotine that can be inhaled like regular cigarettes and they produce an aerosol cloud of nicotine and other substances.

What is Juuling/ Vaping?

JUULing is a form of vaping using Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, which include “vapes”, hookah pens, or JUUL’s.

There is a misconception that e-cigarettes, vapes or JUUL’s is better than smoking cigarettes. The reality is that these devices can become even more harmful and addictive.

There is no water in an e-cigarette, it’s an aerosol, not a vapor. You cannot purchase a JUUL that does not have nicotine in it.

E-cigarettes, vapes and Juul’s still have harmful chemicals and you can still be exposed to second hand-Aerosol if you are within close proximity.

In recent years cigarette use among students has declined but E-cigarette use has skyrocketed by US high school students.

What Does it Look Like?

Tobacco comes in many shapes and sizes. For parents, it’s important to know what to look for because a lot has changed since we were kids.

This article has a variety of e-cigarettes, such as JUUL’s and Vapes pictured throughout.

Don’t let your kids tell you that there is nothing inside the JUUL pod. It’s not just water and flavor. You cannot purchase a JUUL that does not have nicotine in it. Anything other than clean air will damage your lungs.

A single JUUL cartridge is roughly equal to a pack of cigarettes, or 200 cigarette puffs and it’s easy to mistake a JUUL for a USB flash drive because it looks similar and can even be plugged into a computer to charge.

Why are E-cigarettes Popular Among Middle  and High School Students 

The menthol e-liquid vape flavors come in a variety of flavors that appeal to students. There are Strawberry Watermelon, Iced Lemonade, and Berry flavors. There are even flavored vapes that taste like cereal, dessert, candy, and bakery items.

Young people are targeted in advertising to become the next generation of smokers.

Studies show that adolescents who vaped were 4 times more likely to report cigarette smoking and 80% of adult smokers started before age 18.

It’s easier to hide JUULing from parents because there is not a bad smell on clothing or your breath like with traditional cigarettes and many parents could easily mistake a charging JUUL for a regular USB in their computer because of its similar appearance.

What are the Dangers of E-cigarettes?

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. Nicotine affects every cell of your body. When a cigarette is burned it creates more than 7,000 chemicals.

According to the CDC website, as of October 1, 2019, there were 1,080 lung injury cases associated with the use of e-cigarette, or vaping, products have been reported to CDC from the following states and 1 U.S. territory.

Eighteen deaths have been confirmed in 15 states and more deaths are under investigation.

The CDC has received complete sex and age data for 889 cases.

• 70% of cases are male
• The median age of patients is 23 years and ranges from 13-75 years.
• 81% of patients are under 35 years old.

A few of the shocking chemicals you’ll find in e-cigarettes are Propylene glycol also found in Antifreeze, Acetone also used for nail polish remover, Ethylbenzene also used for paints and pesticides, Formaldehyde also used for embalming, Nicotine also used for Cigarettes, and Rubidium also used in fireworks.

1 Cigarette = 1ml nicotine

1 pack of Cigarettes = 20 mg of nicotine = 20 Cigarettes

1 JUUL pod = 41.3mg nicotine =41 Cigarettes

1 PHIX pod = 75 mg nicotine = 75 Cigarettes

1 Suorin = 90 mg of nicotine = 90 Cigarettes

How the Body is Affected by Nicotine

Nicotine rewires and changes the brain, causes the heart to beat faster due to “fight or flight” response, trouble breathing and causes damages to the lungs, and increased acid reflux.

Attention, learning, and memory are impacted by nicotine exposure during adolescence. Longterm exposure can be addicting, increase the risk of heart disease, and negatively impact your respiratory tract.

When Should You Start Talking to Your Students About E-Cigarettes?

It’s important to start having conversations with your student about e-cigarette use, such as vaping or JUULing as early as 5th grade. Unfortunately, kids are starting to experiment with vaping at earlier ages and the earlier you talk to them, the better informed they will be to make healthy choices.

If you have a student who is addicted to JUULing it’s really important for them to see a physician.