A new vaping device that could be particularly enticing to youth is now on the market and it is called JUUL. It’s an e-cigarette that can be concealed easily because it looks like a USB flash drive and has cartridges that are available in many kid-friendly flavors. This is concerning, as the long-term health effects of inhaling nicotine or other substances using vaping devices is still not known. In addition to containing nicotine, the inhaled and exhaled aerosol has toxic chemicals known to cause cancer, such as cadmium and formaldehyde, as well as ultrafine particles that can irritate the lungs.

Even though the sale and possession of these devices and components is banned to those under 18 in the United States,, youth are still gaining access in a variety of ways. And JUUL now has the highest market share (in tracked channels), surpassing Reynolds’ Vuse as the most popular e-cigarette product. Here are some recent news articles about JUUL and youth:

• “A mango-scented flash-drive-looking device lets kids smoke in class,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 12, 2017.
• “Teenagers Embrace JUUL, Saying It's Discreet Enough To Vape In Class,” NPR, December 4, 2017.
• “Juul e-cigs: The controversial vaping device popular on school campuses,” USA Today, October 31, 2017.