Mint No More

If you are someone who Juuls, this may be unfortunate news. The popular mint-flavored Juul pods are being pulled from retail shelves in an attempt to reduce teenage vaping. An outbreak of vaping related lung injuries over the past few months has led to public health experts urging the federal government to impose limits on the variety of e-cigarettes and eliminating mint pods is one of those limits. 

According to The New York Times, mint-flavored Juul pods contributed to about 70 percent of Juul’s latest sales. Other pod flavors such as mango and crème Brulee have also been discontinued in response to complaints from schools, parents, and lawmakers. 

A recent survey, conducted by the Food and Drug Administration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, revealed that over five million minors reported the use of e-cigarettes this year. In 2018, that number was 3.6 million, demonstrating the rising popularity of vaping among teenagers. 

The same survey also asked what brand of e-cigarettes students used and Juul was the definite favorite. 59 percent of high school students revealed they use Juul, along with 54 percent of middle school students. Additionally, those surveyed reported they use flavored pods the most. 

Medical professionals are concerned about the risks associated with Juuling since Juuls deliver higher concentrations of nicotine than other e-cigarettes. Nicotine is addictive, but can also impair brain and lung development during adolescence, according to the National Center for Health Research. The discreet and sleek design, plus convenience factor, have resulted in Juuls encouraging cigarette smoking, rather than replacing it. 

Juuling on Elon’s campus continues to occur. Whether they are people trying to knock the habit or are willing to risk the potential health risks, it is still common to see people Juuling across campus and on other college campuses. 

Mackenize O’Gara is a current sophomore student at Elon who regrets Juuling. 

“I wish that I had never started Juuling,” O’Gara says. “I was so young when I started that I didn’t realize the repercussions that came along with it. The different flavors made it more appealing because they were practically like candy.”

O’Gara quit Juuling after learning about the damaging health effects it can cause. She recognizes it is a bad habit but does not blame the company for all of the controversies it has sparked. 

“I don’t think it was their intention at the beginning to have these flavors designed to hook teens,” O’Gara says. “However, I do think they could have stopped it much earlier than they did.”