Nicotine’s grip on teens part of vaping concerns

IN full-page advertisements in The Oklahoman and other newspapers, the company that makes the Juul e-cigarette is touting its benefit to cigarette smokers looking to quit.

“It’s a smart, really well thought-out alternative to smoking,” says one ad, quoting a 54-year-old woman who has smoked for 30 years. Another ad says, “34 million Americans still smoke cigarettes. Make the switch.”

The advertisements also include this statement, in large, bold type that’s impossible to miss: “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”

The warning is particularly apt for teenagers, whose developing brains make them more susceptible to nicotine addiction — and for whom the Juul is highly popular. Millions of teens younger than 18 use the Juul device, which looks like a flash drive and delivers with one “pod” the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes’ worth of nicotine.

Juul Labs Inc., once sold its product in flavors such as “Fruit Medley” and “Creme Brulee,” which experts say were attractive to youngsters. To curb sales to minors, Juul last year raised to 21 the minimum age requirement for buying products on its website, and has removed its mint, menthol and tobacco-flavored products from brick-and-mortar stores.

Yet e-cigarettes remain popular with youth. A federal survey this year found that 20 percent of high school students (about 3 million teenagers) reported using e-cigarettes recently. The Juul is far and away the biggest seller. And although Oklahoma health officials have seen a reduction in the teen smoking rate during the past several years, which is great, there has been an increase in e-cigarette use.

That’s a concern because of the strong doses of nicotine they provide. The Wall Street Journal noted last week that, “parents and medical professionals are struggling to help addicted adolescents kick the habit,” with addiction experts reporting a surge in calls from parents and pediatricians.

“It isn’t clear what therapies might work for addiction to e-cigarettes like the Juul, whose nicotine is delivered in a different form from regular cigarettes,” the Journal wrote.

The newspaper noted that addiction experts rely mostly on counseling for teenagers, but adolescent psychiatrists and treatment programs “are in short supply.”

How do you know if a teen is hooked on nicotine? Health experts say it can be difficult to tell, but that frequent vaping and strong cravings are clear signs. On the other hand, falling grades, deteriorating relationships and a loss of interest in favorite activities could be indicators of withdrawal from vaping.

To try to curb teen vaping, the Food and Drug Administration has restricted the sale of certain flavors of e-cigarettes. But because the lack of nicotine treatment options for youth “is so acute,” the Journal noted, the agency plans a public hearing next month about developing treatment some. Parents will want to pay attention to what transpires.