The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently noted in the results of their National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) that the use of tobacco products is one of the leading causes of disease, disability, and even death.

These results underscore Juul health risks, which are evident in the current epidemic of E-Cigarette or Vaping Product-Use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI). The methods of engaging in tobacco use has shape shifted from mostly combustible to smokeless and electronic means, but the results can be no less heinous.

As indicated by the 2019 NYTS published by the CDC on Dec. 6, 2019, 2.9 million middle school students and 8 million high school students have admitted to having tried a tobacco product on at least one occasion.

According to the same survey, 1.5 million middle school students and 4.7 million high school students had tried or engaged in tobacco use, e-cigarettes or combustibles, in the past month. By far, the most reported form of use was vaping with 10.5 percent of middle school students and 27.5 percent of high school students claiming use. This was followed in decreasing numbers by cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and hookahs.

Juul health risks follow from these disturbing statistics. The reasons for giving Juuling a try offered by NYTS respondents are threefold: they had a general curiosity about it, a member of their family or social circle used them, and there was an availability of flavors like mint, fruit, or chocolate. While use of e cigarettes have been on the rise since 2014, the CDC noted that with 2019’s NYTS, half or more of the users polled expressed a desire to quit.

Perhaps media coverage of EVALI and Juul health risks are having some effect on youth engagement as evidenced in this expression of intent, however, many factors can come into play to stop quitting. According to a Dec. 5 article in the New York Times who also cited the recent release of the NYTS, an estimated 2.1 million middle and high school students not only vaped but doubled-up by using combustible cigarettes or cigars as well.

Self-reported symptoms professionally associated with nicotine addiction were the most prevalent in this group and could create a massive barrier to ceasing the habit. Additional barriers include misconceptions about the relative safety of vaping over combustible product use, how much a student has been exposed to the youth-oriented marketing ploys of the e-cigarette industry, and availability of supplies, including flavored vaping pods.

As indicated by a separate CDC report, data on EVALI epidemic as of Dec. 10 reveals 2,409 hospitalized cases reported from the 50 states of the U.S. and the District of Columbia, Territories of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands. Fifty-two people have died to date and the average age of the decedents was 52. The age range of people affected by EVALI has spanned from 17 to 75.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.