Despite Age Restrictions, Teens Are Vaping Juul E-Cigarettes In Schools Across The U.S.

Vaping is unquestionably growing in popularity in the United States and abroad, however, it may also be catching on with the younger generation, including those who don’t meet the age requirements regulating such products.

Earlier this year, the Palm Beach County School District in Florida issued a warning to parents regarding the growing number of vaping devices found on school campuses. And not just on high schools, but middle schools as well.

June Eassa, the school district’s director of Safe Schools, was quoted by WPTV as having said that students aren’t just vaping around campus, they’re “doing it in classrooms.”

“We have students doing it in classrooms. We’re finding them [JUUL devices] actually plugged into our laptops in campuses.”

Substance abuse counselor Dr. Mila Vascones-Gatski, who works with schools in Arlington, Virginia, claims to have confiscated two e-cigs per week since the onset of the new year. The year prior, she claims to have confiscated just one every six months, indicating a clear rise in their popularity on school campuses by her account. As for what’s all the rage, she was quoted by CBS New York as having said that “all of them have been Juuls” this year.

The Juul e-cig is a portable nicotine vaporizer that resembles a USB stick. By some accounts, it’s one of the more inconspicuous e-cigs on the market, thanks in part to its USB drive-esque appearance as well as its alleged ability to produce a minimal amount of visible vapor.

Juuls use e-liquid infused cartridges, known as “pods,” that come in a variety of flavors. The liquids that fill them are infused with nicotine, which some health advocates worry could pave the way for some users to eventually try cigarettes.

Juul Labs, the U.S.-based company behind the Juul brand of electronic cigarette devices, has made clear that their products are only intended for those 21 years of age and older. Regardless, they continue to make their way into the hands on some youths that don’t meet the age requirements imposed upon their products.

Jordan Fox, a junior at Gulf Breeze High School in Florida, was quoted by local news outlet ABC 3 as having said that 80% of her friends have a Juul and that it’s not limited to seniors or flunkies as “even sophomores,” freshman, and “straight-A students” have them.