JUUL Addiction Has Serious Health Risks

Authored by: Katy Moncivais, Ph.D., Medical Editor
Find Your Question
Does JUUL Cause Serious Health Risks?
Can You Get Addicted to JUUL?
Does JUUL Increase Cigarette Use in Teens?
How Do I Quit JUULing?

With major news outlets carrying stories of lung illnesses related to e-cigarette use, many people have questions. Is JUUL bad for you? Does vaping lead to addiction and other serious health risks? Keep reading to find answers to these questions, along with other important JUUL facts.

Does JUUL Cause Serious Health Risks?

Manufacturer JUUL Labs designed their product as an alternative to cigarettes, but they may not have created a safer alternative. According to a number of experts, JUUL pod ingredients can cause a number of serious health problems, including multiple lung diseases.

JUUL Health Risks

  • Acute Lung Injury
    A serious lung condition in which damage to multiple types of lung tissue causes fluid to collect in the lungs, depriving a person of oxygen
  • Asthma
    A lung condition with variable sensitivity in which air passages swell, constrict and/or produce excess mucus, compromising a person's ability to breathe
  • Cardiovascular Disease
    A collection of conditions that negatively affect the function of the heart and blood vessels
  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
    A collection of lung conditions that impede airflow and cause varying degrees of difficulty in breathing
  • Death
    With respect to JUUL, loss of life due to serious, irreversible lung or neurological damage
  • Popcorn Lung
    A lung condition in which the smallest airways sustain damage and may scar due to irritation and inflammation, causing a person to feel short of breath
  • Seizures
    A sudden storm of electrical activity in the brain, often causing physical convulsions and loss of consciousness
  • Stroke
    Loss of blood flow to the brain, causing damage to the oxygen-deprived tissue
Source: Lung.org

JUUL Lung Damage

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials agree that JUULing can cause the health issues listed above, but they also caution potential users about unknown risks. Though manufacturers declare some vape pod ingredients, other chemicals and toxins may still find their way into the pods but not onto the labels. With users inhaling these unknown ingredients, experts say potential JUUL effects on lungs are difficult to predict.

Learn Why People Are Suing JUUL

Can You Get Addicted to JUUL?

Yes. You can get addicted to JUUL.

  • JUUL pods contain nicotine.
  • Nicotine is as addictive as cocaine.
  • Nicotine may make brains more susceptible to addiction.
  • JUUL pods deliver nicotine faster than other e-cigarettes.
  • Addiction symptoms can appear within days of beginning to regularly use nicotine.

JUUL pods contain a number of ingredients, but nicotine carries the highest risk of addiction. According to studies, symptoms of addiction can appear within days of beginning to use nicotine-containing products.

If nicotine can lead to addiction, it becomes important to understand exactly how much nicotine is in a JUUL pod. According to the company's website, JUUL pods contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Studies show JUUL vape devices deliver nicotine 2.7 times faster than other e-cigarettes.

Scientists have determined nicotine to be equally addictive as cocaine and more addictive than alcohol and barbiturates (a class of addictive sedatives). Evidence even suggests that nicotine use in teens alters brain activity, making them more susceptible to drug addiction later in life.

JUUL vape products come with a variety of pro-addiction qualities: they have a high nicotine content and allow for speedy nicotine delivery. According to studies, those qualities can and do lead to addiction.

If you or your middle or high school student have experienced nicotine addiction after using JUUL products, you may have a legal case. Claim your free case review today to explore your legal options.

Does JUULing Increase Cigarette Use Among Teens?

E-cigarette use increases traditional cigarette use in youth.

Data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) indicates teenagers who vape are 10 times more likely to use cigarettes. Dr. Michael Baha, a cardiologist at Johns Hopkins, says his number-one concern about vaping right now is that it may act as a gateway to more traditional tobacco products. The FDA currently has a campaign designed to discourage teen nicotine and e-cigarette use: The Real Cost Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign.

JUUL Pod Ingredients

  • Glycerol
  • Propylene Glycol
  • Nicotine
  • Benzoic Acid
  • Vanillin
  • Menthol
Source: JUUL.com and American Journal of Preventive Medicine

How Do I Quit JUULing?

Some adult smokers began using e-cigarette products as a way to quit smoking, only to find themselves addicted to JUUL. Given the dangers of nicotine in general, combined with the additional health risks of JUULing, many e-cigarette users would like to quit vaping. Anyone interested in JUUL or nicotine cessation can access one or all of the resources below.