Since JUUL’s release on to the market, youth e-cigarette smokers have increased by more than 50% between 2017-2018 according to the Center for Disease Control. This is the highest increase in smoking ever recorded in the United States. Approximately, 3.6 million middle and high school students are using e-cigarettes. This epidemic has affected school districts across the county.
School districts have been forced to divert funds to combat vaping in their schools. Increased facility monitoring systems, additional staff time directed towards disciplining students caught vaping, teacher training focused on preventing vaping in their classrooms, and new nicotine addiction programs are just several ways that school districts are spending money to prevent vaping in school.
Multiple school districts across the country have filed lawsuits, including St. Charles, MO; Long Island, NY and La Conner, WA. On October 29, 2019, Los Angeles Unified School District filed their class action lawsuit in California. Los Angeles Unified School District is the second-largest school district in the country. LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said, “By filing this lawsuit today, we are taking a step toward ensuring those responsible will pay the price to repair the harm done to our students, our schools and the communities we serve.”
Walton Telken Injury Lawyers is currently pursuing cases for school districts in Illinois, Missouri and across the country. Please contact us to discuss the holding JUUL accountable for marketing and manufacturing a product that has endangered the lives of your students and created a burden on your district’s resources.
Individual Juul Injuries
JUUL’s marketing campaign was youth-oriented in both its social media advertising and the “fun” flavor pods. Flavors included fruit loops, pancake syrup, bubble gum, gummy bear and vanilla. These flavors are not the type of product flavors that adult smokers traditionally purchase. Numerous types of injuries have been caused by vaping in the youth population.
Lung Injuries Associated with Juul
Vaping has serious health effects. In recent months, the CDC has been focusing on lung injuries.
Symptoms of Vaping Lung Injuries include:
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
Addiction Problems with Juul
Thousands of children started vaping due to the social media marketing, the sweet flavored pods and the easy of use. Because vaping is smokeless and the devices are small, children can vape throughout their day. This ease of use quickly creates an addiction to nicotine. Former FDA Commissioner Gottlieb, said in a recent interview “… Juul is a high-dose nicotine product.” The amount of nicotine in a JUUL pod is roughly equivalent to a pack of cigarettes.
Once a child is addicted to nicotine, this creates a potential lifetime of health concerns for a child’s developing body and brain. Vaping is the “gateway” to addiction.
Walton Telken Injury Lawyers is currently pursuing lawsuits related to minors who have suffered from lung injuries or addiction related to the use of JUUL products. If you or a loved one, has suffered a JUUL injury, please contact our office for a consultation with an attorney.
