A 15-year-old girl and her family have initiated a class action lawsuit against JUUL Labs, claiming its use of fruity flavors and colorful marketing was geared toward teenagers. The lawsuit also alleges that the company knew its product contained addictive substances that could harm users but failed to fully disclose that information to the public.
The plaintiff claims she began using the JUUL device when she was 14 years old and became addicted only a year later. Like many youths, she was unaware that the product contained nicotine and used the device because of the various fun flavors offered. She now suffers from seizures, a side effect of nicotine addiction.
JUUL has continued to defend its product and advertising practices. The company stated that it never intended to purposefully market to teenagers, nor did it ever intend to get them hooked on vape devices.
Health Effects of Vaping
Vape devices such as JUUL have been around for over a decade and use a coil to heat up and vaporize a liquid that the user then inhales. When they first appeared on the market, vapes were seen as alternatives to smoking regular cigarettes. Although the devices have fewer chemicals than cigarettes, they still contain harmful substances, including nicotine, diacetyl, and benzene. The aerosol in vapes also contains particles of nickel, tin, and lead that can be inhaled into the user’s lungs.
The chemicals and particles in vape products can lead to addiction and health problems, including:
- Seizures
- Strokes
- Brain and lung problems
- Cardiovascular problems
Teenage Vape Use
In the U.S., youth vape use has increased, and JUUL is the most popular brand. According to a survey conducted by the National Institutes of Health, from 2017 to 2018, vape use increased by 9% among 12th graders. The study also found that nearly 18% of 8th graders and 33% of 10th graders reported using vape devices within the past year. In 2018, Surgeon General Jerome Adams called vaping an “epidemic” among teenagers.
Because teen brains are still developing, they are highly susceptible to nicotine’s addictive nature. Yet, many teens don’t see vaping as dangerous because they’re not smoking actual cigarettes, and they often refer to using a vape device simply as “juuling.”
Contact Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC for a Free Consultation
Vape use is widespread among teens, and because of the marketing practices of companies such as JUUL, they are not fully aware of the harmful chemicals contained in the devices. Because of this, they can develop health problems that require medical care, resulting in high expenses. Victims may be able to pursue a lawsuit to hold the company financially responsible for damages.
If you or a loved one developed a health condition as the result of vaping, contact our attorney for legal representation. Brett has over two decades of experience helping individuals injured as a result of the negligence of companies and has successfully obtained millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for past clients. Our lawyer will fight hard to recover just compensation on your behalf.
To schedule your free case evaluation, call Brett at (502) 242-8877 or complete an online contact form.