In light of recent fears about the teen vaping epidemic, President Trump and his administration announced a “limited vaping ban” on Thursday, which will prohibit e-cigarette retailers from selling flavors other than menthol and tobacco. While this may seem like a positive change on its surface, public health advocates claim that it will not be enough to slow the youth vaping crisis – and that the decision represents a win for Juul and other e-cigarette manufacturers, which poured considerable resources into a political campaign to this end.
Scott Schlesinger, an attorney who won significant jury verdicts against the tobacco industry and who currently represents many teens and young adults against Juul, recently shared his concerns in a recent article for The Hill. Noting that Juul has now been acquired by Big Tobacco titan Altria, Attorney Schlesinger noted the pressure tactics Juul executives applied on the administration. “This is one of the most powerful companies in the country,” Attorney Schlesinger said, “Their executives were put in at Juul, and they are doing all they can to come out on top.”
Why Is the Limited Ban Dangerous for Teens?
Many public health advocates argue that the teenage vaping epidemic was fueled by kid-friendly, e-cigarette flavors, like vanilla, mango, and mint. Health experts note that teenagers will migrate to using menthol flavored e-cigarettes. As Gary Reedy, CEO of the American Cancer Society, said in the article: “With mint and menthol already being some of the most popular flavor choices among youth users, there’s reason to believe the popularity of menthol will only continue to rise.”
By exempting menthol e-cigarettes, the limited vaping ban will not effectively prevent hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of children and teenagers become addicting to vaping each year. Through the end of 2019, the CDC reports that over 25% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes. In addition, more than 2,600 people were hospitalized with a mysterious “vaping illness” known as e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI). While EVALI has primarily been linked to e-cigarette liquids that contain vitamin E acetate, youth and teen e-cigarette users also face the risk of nicotine addiction and even fatal overdose.
Continuing to Fight for Juul Injury Victims
Although the limited vaping ban may not stem the tide of youth e-cigarette injuries, our Juul lawsuit team at Schlesinger Law Offices, P.A. is ready to help victims fight back against the e-cigarette companies. We understand the severity of the threat facing our nation’s teens, and through dedicated legal advocacy, we aim to help families who have been affected by the crisis. If your child has suffered from serious injuries after using Juul products or another form of e-cigarette, you can count on our nationally-recognized lawyers to seek justice on their behalf.
Call (954) 467-8800 today for a free consultation.
