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‘Juuling': Vaping device that looks like USB drive popular with teens

By Alison Grande
By Alison Grande

The Washington Poison Center is warning parents and teens about the new vaping device Juul, which could be easily mistaken for a USB drive.

It is small and easy to hide, but it's what is inside that has health officials so concerned.

The Juul device is marketed as a way to get adults off of cigarettes and so it offers a stronger nicotine content.

Students at Ballard High School say "Juuling" is popular. Olivia Budick says she doesn't have one but many of her friends do.

"Everyone I know who has had access to nicotine has done it through a Juul," said Burdick. She said those friends wouldn't consider smoking cigarettes.

Wylie Soltes says he had a Juul. "You can pull it out, you can have it anywhere. To smoke a cigarette you have to hit the bus stop. You want a Juul you hit the bathroom, it's easy." His Juul was taken away at school.  "They market it as an alternative to cigarettes but really it's a bunch of kids who have never picked up a pack and they're starting their nicotine addiction there."

The company that makes Juul sent a statement:

"JUUL Labs mission is to eliminate cigarette smoking by offering existing adult smokers with a better alternative to combustible cigarettes. JUUL is not intended for anyone else. We strongly condemn the use of our product by minors, and it is in fact illegal to sell our product to minors. No minor should be in possession of a JUUL product.

Nicotine is addictive. An individual who has not previously used nicotine products should not start, particularly youth. Recent science raises serious concerns about the adverse effect of nicotine on adolescent neurodevelopment.

We encourage parents to talk with their children about the dangers of nicotine. As a company we also continuously seek ways to contribute to this dialogue and knowledge base." 

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