Parents, school administrators, and even the FDA are concerned that the JUUL’s popularity among teens is quickly creating a new generation of addicted smokers. Just because it doesn’t include tobacco, doesn’t mean that the JUUL’s nicotine pods are GOOD for you. However, as I’ve written many times before, teens brains aren’t developed enough even as sixteen or seventeen years old, for them to properly comprehend the consequences of actions like these. They don’t see themselves as nicotine addicts now or in the future.
Jenny Sexton, a substance abuse counselor for the Arlington, Virginia school system, says she shares the concern that teens don’t really know what they’re getting into with JUULing. She believes that some think the pods are benign, that nicotine alone can’t hurt you. She also says that the pods CAN be refilled with even more harmful and unregulated substances like THC oil (an extract of marijuana).
Despite pressure on local vape shops to crack down on fake IDs to make sure their customers are old enough to purchase JUUL products, teens still seem to be able to get their hands on them very easily. For one thing, many high school students ARE 18 already, and many online shops who sell JUULs only require you to check a box saying that you ARE 18 to purchase.
(So parents, watch your kids’ online bank accounts for suspicious charges!)
Moms and dads, once again it’s on us to be vigilant and KNOW about these devices so we can make sure our kids don’t HAVE them. Nicotine is one of the most highly-addictive substances our kids can use, and thanks to JUULing, it’s now easier than ever for them to hide the habit. So be in the know, and don’t be afraid to violate your child’s “privacy” in the name of their HEALTH.
