LOOKIN' FOR A THRILL
Kids will continue to look for the excitement of doing something “bad”
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Juul e-cigarettes are marketed towards adults, however there has been a number of headlines due to the large amount of kids that use the product. Many people attribute the product to its sleek appearance. The flash drive-like product makes it easy to disguise, allowing kids to hide them in school and at home. By law, people under 21, previously 18, are not allowed to buy Juul. However, many adolescents are getting their hands on the product. The Truth Initiative did research on how youth are coming into contact with Juul products.
The most common way kids obtain Juul products are from retail
locations. 74% of youth throughout the Truth Initiative said they
obtained a Juul illegally from gas stations, convenience stores, and
vape shops from selling to minors. 52% said they received the product
from social sources such as friends or family, leaving 6% to obtaining
the product from the internet. Many online transactions are done by
teens with 82% of them being successful. Once the FDA stepped in
with their investigation, they alerted retailers and expressed concerns
about online Juul listings.
Many factors play into why adolescents seek Juul products one being
impulsivity. Adolescents disregard many actions that have negative
consequences or risks. Persistent tobacco use is a common issue in
today's societyt due to e-cigarettes. Although new advertising tactics
and stricter regulations have been put in place, kids love a thrill. Similar
to teen drinking, adolescent enjoy getting away with their actions.
Once kids try it once, Juul use can become easily addictive contributing to the youth tobacco epidemic.
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COMMENTS:
It is awful to see that people do not make the effort to make sure underage youth are not coming into contact with these products. Since forever, children have always wanted what they can not have and will do whatever it takes. Although changing regulations and advertising tactics may help the youth epidemic, it will not stop it entirely. How are we supposed to prevent this? What steps do we take to take control of the situation?
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