Walk around any college campus, and one is bound to see the most popular smoking fad among young people: the Juul. Since the small device does not have to be filled, users buy “pods.” They may seem harmless at first, but each pod, in a pack of four, contains 5 percent nicotine, which is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes, or 200 puffs. With growing popularity comes growing concern about the long-term consequences of the Juul. That said, there are not enough conducted studies to prove all of the health repercussions of the new e-cig. However, we do know the health risks of cigarettes. Juul users every day are making the gamble that the slightly unknown is safer than the consequences of cigarette smoking.
In an ideal world, people would not smoke and this would not be an issue, but we do not live in such a world, and millions of people smoke every day. This must be respected as a purely personal choice. Cigarette smoking causes heart disease, cancer and many other horrific diseases. Obviously, that burning tobacco, tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide would cause these horrendous illnesses. Sure, the Juul might not be healthy, but if it is a healthier alternative to a known killer, we should know all the facts. Fortunately, people might get the answers they need about the Juul come November 2018. According to The New York Times, by that time the e-cigarette industry will be regulated by the FDA. This will willingly give vape users the knowledge they need about e-cigarettes being an alternative to cigarette smoking.
The regulation by the FDA is a much-needed measure since anyone with access to the internet and social media knows that fake stories can spread quickly. Seemingly every week, a new story will come out proclaiming either the benefits or potential risks of using a Juul with little validity. With the FDA regulating the e-cigarette industry, the smoking community is hopefully one step closer to knowing the truth about Juuls and the health risks associated with them.
We live in a world of diverse people who live their daily lives in all sorts of ways, and part of some peoples’ lifestyle includes smoking. One thing is for sure: we know the risks of smoking cigarettes and the terrible consequences that result from doing so. The Juul may be equally as addictive due to the nicotine, but if it can help people quit the tobacco tyrant, then it is at least better than smoking a pack a day. If people are bound to burn, then they might as well keep working toward a less harmful way to do it.
Photo: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian
