Why File A JUUL Lawsuit?
Individuals, including teens with no previous smoking experiences, who were led to believe that JUUL was “better than smoking” or “a safer alternative to smoking” are finding themselves addicted and are now suffering serious health issues.
Individuals who are fighting addiction and life-threatening health effects associated with JUUL are currently hiring a JUUL lawyer to file a lawsuit in order to receive compensation for the damages that they have incurred as a result of JUUL’s negligence and false marketing. The manufacturer failed to warn about dangers, and now thousands of youth, adults, and individuals trying to quit smoking are suffering the consequences for JUUL’s actions. The case will hold JUUL accountable for their actions and for the youth vaping epidemic that they have created.
What Is JUUL?
Manufactured by JUUL Labs, this popular USB-shaped smoking device has recently captivated the e-cigarette market. Its sleek, concealable shape and array of fruity flavors make it the favored choice for both adult and teen smokers.
Contrary to claims that JUULing is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, recent studies have found that JUUL and other e-cigarettes actually expose users to a number of dangerous health risks commonly associated with cigarettes. Researchers have also found links to risks not commonly associated with traditional cigarettes, such as e-cigarette users’ higher likelihood of developing bronchiolitis obliterans, more commonly referred to as “popcorn lung”.
With the continued rise in JUUL’s popularity, paralleled by continued research illustrating health risks, lawsuits are beginning to be filed on behalf of JUUL smokers nationwide.
E-Cigarettes & JUUL Popularity
E-cigarettes have become extremely popular in recent years, with e-cigarette use increasing 10-fold between 2011 and 2016. JUUL currently holds more than 75% of shares in the e-cigarette market – a major market that is expected to be worth $86.43 billion by 2025 – making it by far the most popular e-cigarette available to consumers, with company futures expected to reach $43+ billion.
JUUL was popularized within the last decade primarily due to the company’s aggressive online social media marketing campaign, which advertised its product as a “safer alternative” for individuals trying to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. The general public, especially youth and young adults, responded positively to e-cigarette marketing efforts, especially the deceitful tactics used by JUUL.
Since the introduction of their marketing campaigns, e-cigarette manufacturers have faced heavy scrutiny for these marketing tactics, with accusations that the companies were deliberately targeting youth in an effort to create an entirely new generation of smokers.
There is now an “epidemic” of e-cigarette youth smokers, which has raised concerns of communities, states, and even federal agencies. Shocking reports have shown a continual rise in the number of youth JUUL and e-cigarette smokers that has led the federal government to label youth vaping as a “nationwide epidemic”.
The initial lawsuit, which was filed in North Carolina, contributed popularity amongst teens to their advertising efforts that marketed teens and the fruity flavored pods that JUUL sold. In response, JUUL removed flavored pods sales to certain businesses, such as gas stations. The company also made an effort to minimize its presence on social media and put up additional hurdles to top underage youth from purchasing their product. Despite these efforts, popularity within the teen demographic has continued to grow. During the span of their initial marketing campaign, the company was extremely successful in creating thousands of new smokers who are now extremely nicotine dependent. They also succeeded in making JUUL a social phenomenon, using their marketing campaign to establish an air of cool around JUUL, especially for youth.
Now, the company faces a lawsuit in Illinois and other states who believe that JUUL popularity amongst teens is a result of the company’s targeted marketing of youth.
Is JUUL Bad for You?
There are a number of factors that can be attributed to JUUL’s ability to break through the flooded e-cigarette market and establish itself as the leading brand for e-cigarettes, but one of the largest contributing factors is JUUL successful campaign advertising JUUL as a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes.
Through their advertising campaign, they swayed public opinion to believe that JUUL is a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes and an effective way to quit smoking. But, according to a study published in the American Journal of Physiology, the chemical flavorings and additives in e-cigarettes can potentially cause more damage to the lungs than the damage caused by traditional cigarettes.
The FDA has stepped in to correct this claim, telling JUUL that there is no evidence to substantiate that it is a safer alternative to cigarettes. The FDA warned that, by making these claims, JUUL is a direct violation of federal law.
There are a number of serious adverse effects associated with nicotine dependence:
- Severe addiction
- Cardiovascular disease
- Heart attack or heart problems
- Lung or respiratory failure
- Mental health or behavior issues
- Nicotine poisoning
- Pregnancy complication or birth defects
- Seizures
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Stroke
- Other complications
Is JUUL Safer Than Cigarettes?
As the FDA warning letter made clear, there is currently no evidence that JUUL is safer than cigarettes.
Not only that, but the concentration of nicotine in each JUUL pod is a major cause for concern – the concentration of nicotine in JUUL is one of the primary issues claimed in JUUL lawsuits.
