What is Juuling, is it safe and how can you talk to your teens about it?
The current popular vape making the rounds is the Juul – a small device that looks deceptively like a USB flash drive. Here’s why it’s really popular with teenagers.
What is Juuling?
A Juul is a sleek, black vaping pen that looks a lot like a flash drive but isn’t one.
The device fits snuggly into the palm of your hand and is so discreet it’s become popular with teenagers looking to use them away from adult eyes.
The sleek, rectangular Juul device can even be plugged into a laptop to charge.
As with other more well-known e-cigarettes on the market, the device comes with a small cartridge of "juice" that contains concentrated nicotine, fruity flavourings and other chemicals.
Juuling has become so popular as a discreet way of getting a nicotine hit that it is now a verb and is regularly spoken about on social media.
How does the device work?
Juul devices (and other vapes) work by heating up a cartridge that contains oils and make a vapour that can be inhaled.
According to the company's website, the devices were designed to help cigarette smokers transition off smoking and are aimed at adults over 21 who are trying to quit smoking.
One Juul pod is equivalent to smoking one pack of cigarettes or 200 puffs.
Why are they so popular with teenagers?
The biggest draw for teens is that the pods come in fun flavours, such as cucumber, mango and mint.
They are also incredibly discreet and look deceptive to the unsuspecting eye.
Students are able to easily conceal the device and reports suggest some are using them in the middle of class as they produce less smoke than other vaping devices.
Teenagers also falsely believe that vaping is a safer alternative to smoking.
Is vaping safe?
While e-cigarettes contain fewer toxic substances than traditional cigarettes, vaping may still expose people to cancer-causing chemicals as different brands use different formulations.
It’s not clear exactly how e-cigarettes affect health because there’s little long-term data on the topic at the moment.
As each Juul pod contains the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes it could lead to deeper problems along the line.
These include decreased metabolism, increased cancer risks and respiratory problems as well as dependence, as nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the common market.
Doctors fear kids using vapes may inadvertently get hooked on nicotine which could potentially lead them to take up cigarettes later in life.
Some doctors also suggest that youngsters who use nicotine earlier in life are more likely to become addicted to other drugs as adults.
How can you talk to your teenager about Juuling?
If you suspect your teenage son or daughter is juuling, or vaping of any kind, it’s probably time to sit down and have a chat with them about it.
Parents are advised to be open to the conversation and be ready to take their child’s views and opinions on board.
If you discover that your child is juuling, it might be worth exploring why they have chosen to take it up – are they being pressured by their peers, or do they think it makes them look cool?
This conversation is a great way to explore any self-esteem issues they may be suffering from.
It might also be worth considering therapy for your teenager if their addiction is deeper than you expected.
Other tips include:
- Being a good role model and not engaging in these behaviours yourself
- Establishing a safe and open environment where your kids can talk about their feelings and opinions without feeling judged
- Help them understand that using willpower to stand up to peers is really hard, but willpower is like a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets
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