The use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, has been a growing trend for the past several years, but the recent death of 6 e-cig users, and the illness of 380 others, has caused everyone to question the effects of these devices, especially as it pertains to teens and young adults.

If your teenager has been using e-cigarettes, make sure you know the health risks they could be facing and discover why you should ask them to stop vaping immediately. Alternatively, if your child suffered a serious injury after using JUUL or another e-cigarette, find out whether their health condition could be linked to vaping and discover your legal options.

About Vaping

New generations of teenagers had all but kicked the smoking trend about a decade ago, but the introduction of e-cigarettes spurred a new wave of addiction. Initially introduced as a safer, healthier alternative to smoking, e-cigs were all but welcomed on the market. However, consumers soon learned that these devices were just as addictive, if not more so, than traditional cigarettes. New research tells us that they certainly aren’t any safer.

In lieu of tobacco, e-cigarettes burn high levels of nicotine along with a mysterious list of chemicals, many of which may cause serious health complications. To further emphasize this point, no less than 380 cases of undiagnosed lung illness have broken out across the United States, all of which are associated with the use of e-cigarettes.

A Warning From the CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a statement on August 30, 2019, encouraging the public to stop using e-cigarettes immediately. In their own words, the CDC says, “Until we know more, if you are concerned about these specific health risks, CDC recommends that you consider refraining from using e-cigarette or vaping products.” The health risks, according to the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), include cases of a mysterious lung illness. This illness has affected 380 people across the United States, as of September 11, but the numbers are rising frequently. So far, 6 have died in relation to this unknown illness.

Doctors have confirmed that each case has one main commonality—all have used e-cigarettes. In some cases, users lungs are peppered with black dots that the doctors blame on the use of e-cigarettes.

Unfortunately, many of the chemicals in e-cigarette cartridges, or JUUL pods, have not been tested, so we don’t yet know the long-term effects they can have when inhaled. Due to this issue, the illness affecting hundreds of US citizens, many of whom are teenagers, continues to be a mystery,

JUUL and Teens

According to several sources, including the CDC, the effects of e-cigarettes are especially potent to teenagers and young adults. Because the adolescent mind is not fully mature until later in life, teenage users, and those in their early 20s, could suffer brain development issues due to e-cigarette use. In some cases, seizure disorders have been linked to excessive JUUL use.

Unfortunately, JUUL has a sordid history of pointedly marketing their products to younger users. In the past, they’ve specifically featuring images of young users vaping with friends, and they’ve launched these advertising campaigns on social media—the best advertising medium for teenagers and young adults. As a result, teenagers are becoming addicted to nicotine in staggering numbers, leading to an increased use of e-cigarettes and, in some cases, serious and fatal lung problems.

Do You Have a Case? We Can Help.

If your child has been harmed by the ill effects of JUUL, or by the use of another vaping product, we’re here to help. Our firm can help your family seek justice and compensation from the big e-cigarette companies, and we’ll use our ample resources and legal skills to ensure your voice is heard.

Contact our attorneys at Wagner Reese today to schedule a free consultation.