The popularity of e-cigarettes has boomed in recent years. While these devices are often marketed as safer than smoking traditional cigarettes, health concerns and related illnesses are popping up all over the country. A significant number of patients are under the age of 20. If you believe you’ve been injured as a result of vaping, filing a Jackson JUUL e-cigarette lawsuit could get you the compensation you need to recover.
A Brief History of E-Cigarettes
In 2003, the first commercially successful electronic cigarette was created in Beijing, China. The devices were introduced in Europe and the United States in 2006, but sales didn’t boom significantly until 2009. Since then sales have continued to climb, even as conventional cigarette sales decline. It’s estimated that the global e-cig market is worth nearly $23 billion.
JUUL Labs, Inc. was founded in 2015. Within the next two years, their products became increasingly popular. Today, they account for over 70% of the US e-cigarette market. As a result of recent controversies and lawsuits, however, the CEO, Kevin Burns, stepped down in late 2019.
The Popularity of JUUL with Teens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigs have been the most commonly used tobacco product by middle schoolers and high schoolers since 2014. In 2017 and 2018, the number of youth who use products like JUUL went up by 1.5 million. The increase is so severe the U.S. Surgeon General has called the e-cigarette use by youth an epidemic.
JUUL e-cigs are the most popular device among teens. One of the reasons for this is the way the company advertises. It’s estimated that nearly 7 out of ten middle and high schoolers have seen ads for e-cigs in stores, on the internet, on TV, or in magazines or newspapers. The advertisements sometimes make vaping look harmless to young people. While most teens recognize the dangers of smoking cigarettes, e-cigs are marketed in a way that makes them seem less dangerous, even though they’re not.
In addition to advertising, the flavors JUUL pods come in are more enticing to teens than the taste of tobacco. While the pods do come in tobacco, Virginia tobacco, and menthol, the more popular flavors include mango, crème, mint, cucumber, and fruit.
The Potential Dangers of Vaping
If you look at the ingredient list on JUUL packaging, it includes glycerol, propylene glycol, natural oils, extracts and flavor, nicotine, and benzoic acid. Glycerol is widely used in the food industry, as it’s colorless, odorless, and sweet-tasting. When purchasers look at those ingredients, they may see no cause for concerns, aside from the nicotine. The fact of the matter, however, is that the health effects of inhaling those ingredients aren’t well-known. Because the devices haven’t been on the market for decades, there’s no way to determine the long-term effects.
The nicotine in the pods is incredibly potent. One JUUL pod contains 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine, which is nearly a whole pack. It’s estimated, however, that two-thirds of JUUL users ages 15-24 don’t know that the product contains nicotine. JUUL products also use nicotine salts, which allows higher levels of nicotine to be inhaled more easily with less irritation.
For years, we’ve known the dangers of nicotine exposure include insulin resistance, increased heart rate and blood pressure, suppressed appetite, chronic bronchitis, and lung disease. But nicotine on kids’ and teens’ brains is even more dangerous. The stimulant can harm the brain’s development, which doesn’t stop until age 25. Young users could develop issues with attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. The use of nicotine in young people also increases the risk of future addiction to other drugs.
Understanding the Lawsuits Against JUUL
A number of lawsuits have been filed against JUUL Labs, Inc. regarding the failure to warn about the dangers of vaping, in addition to deceptive marketing practices. Many buyers who are now addicted to JUUL products were led to believe e-cigarettes were a safer alternative to smoking. Now, however, a number of e-cig users are suffering serious consequences. Because the manufacturer failed to warn about the dangers of JUUL, victims have the right to file a lawsuit in the event they’re now fighting addiction or life-threatening health effects.
Vaping lawsuits are also being filed by parents of teens who are addicted to JUUL pods. The claims allege the company wrongfully marketed to younger crowds by creating an online culture and community designed to encourage young people to use e-cigs. While JUUL Labs Inc. claims their devices are intended for adult use, the vapes appeal to a younger crowd because of the available flavors, designs, and charging method.
Secure Your Future with Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC
If you believe you’ve sustained injuries as a result of JUUL products or any other e-cigarette brand on the market, you may have grounds to file a Jackson JUUL e-cigarette lawsuit. With the help of our attorneys, you’ll be on the road to claiming compensation for your economic and noneconomic losses, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
At Pittman, Roberts & Welsh, PLLC, we believe negligent companies should be held responsible for their actions when others are injured as a result. No matter the size of the company, we’re prepared to go to trial and fight on behalf of our clients.
It’s important to note that the litigation process takes time. As such, it’s crucial to get in touch with our lawyers as soon as possible. The faster we get your case filed, the better chances we have of maximizing your compensation. If you’re ready to get started, contact our firm today.
