Nicotine Addiction and Deceptive Marketing to Minors Fuels Lawsuits Against JUUL and E-Cigarette Companies

Americans have known about the dangers of cigarettes for decades, which is why the use of tobacco has dramatically declined among both minors and adults over the past 30 years. But as any smoker or former smoker will tell you, escaping from the clutch of nicotine addiction isn’t easy, even while being aware of how harmful smoking is. So, when JUUL and other manufacturers of e-cigarettes promoted their products as “safer” alternatives to smoking, ostensibly for current smokers, they quickly skyrocketed in popularity.

But the truth is that JUUL and e-cigarettes are not safe, nor were these products marketed just to adults and existing smokers. Instead, e-cigarettes contain quantities of nicotine that far exceed the amount in cigarettes, making addiction and a lifetime of severe health problems more likely. Not only did JUUL and others conceal or downplay the dangerously high nicotine levels in their products, they purposely, deceptively, and illegally targeted minors in their marketing and product development.

The epidemic of e-cigarette use among teens has alarmed public health officials, doctors, and parents alike, as they see youths struggling with intense nicotine addiction and respiratory problems. Legislators and officials at all levels are calling for investigations and swift action to address this public health crisis, as JUUL and other companies face increasing scrutiny for their products and practices.

Now, those harmed by e-cigarettes are filing lawsuits against JUUL and other manufacturers, seeking compensation for the damage they caused and holding these companies accountable for their false and deceptive marketing and targeting of youths.

Sommers Schwartz, a nationally recognized personal injury and class action law firm, is among the firms investigating and pursuing JUUL and e-cigarette addiction and injury claims on behalf of clients who fell victim to these dangerous and deceptively marketed products.

The Explosive Growth of E-Cigarettes Among America’s Youth Was No Accident

The use of JUUL and other e-cigarettes by American youth has seen explosive growth in the past few years. The number of young adults aged 18 to 21 who tried JUUL increased more than 400 percent from July 2017 to October 2018, according to an in-depth report by the Truth Initiative. That report also contained several other shocking statistics that reveal how pervasive “vaping” now is among America’s teens:

• E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among American youth.
• Fifty-six percent of youth and young adults who used JUUL or an e-cigarette reported that they were younger than 18 when they first tried the device.
• Teens between 15 and 17 years old have 16 times greater odds of using JUUL than 25- to 34-year-olds.
• E-cigarette use among high schoolers reached more than 20 percent in 2018 — which represents a 78 percent increase in one year.

When teen JUUL and e-cigarette users were asked what appealed to them about vaping, its popularity among their friends, fruity flavors, and the belief that it was less harmful than cigarette smoking topped the list.

All of those reasons can be attributed to intentional and deceptive marketing tactics by JUUL and its counterparts. Lawsuits allege that JUUL deliberately and illegally marketed its products to appeal to minors, including explicitly targeting teens through its presence on several social media platforms and use of online “influencers.” JUUL also fraudulently concealed information about the extreme levels of nicotine that JUUL products contain and deliver, and how those levels promote addiction to their products.

20 Cigarettes Worth of Nicotine

Each JUUL pod contains 59 milligrams of nicotine per milliliter of liquid, roughly equivalent to 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine and far exceeding the already elevated nicotine levels in other e-cigarettes. Nicotine is known to be harmful to teenagers’ developing brains, and young e-cigarette users are more likely to become addicted to nicotine and have more difficulty quitting.

Youths may also be at higher risk for addiction to other substances in the future, according to studies cited in the Truth Initiative report. In fact, studies show that minors who use e-cigarettes are more than four times more likely to start smoking tobacco within 18 months compared with young people who do not use e-cigarettes.

Call Sommers Schwartz Today to Discuss Nicotine Addiction Caused by JUUL and Other E-Cigarettes

If you or your child is addicted to nicotine or is suffering from other health problems after vaping or using JUUL and other e-cigarettes, you may have a claim for compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are meeting with individuals and families who were deceived by the wrongful practices of e-cigarette companies and are now living with the painful consequences. We will aggressively pursue all claims and seek the compensation and justice that our clients deserve.

Please contact us to arrange for your free initial consultation.