In recent years, several studies have alluded to the potential harms of vape usage, but a recent landmark study found evidence that vaping can be as bad for your heart as traditional cigarettes. These findings cast significant doubt on the claim that e-cigarettes are “safer” than traditional cigarettes; a claim usually made by proponents of vaping as a smoking cessation tool. 

The Cardiac and Lung E-cig Smoking study (CLUES) observed 395 participants (164 long-term e-cigarette users, 117 long-term cigarette users, and 114 people who do not vape or smoke). Those who used e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes experienced greater increases in heart rate and blood pressure; however, regular vape users experienced worse measures of heart rate variability, a constricted brachial artery (which is the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the arms and hands), and have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Additionally, participants were put through an exercise stress test, and those who smoked or vaped performed significantly worse on all metrics. Compared to non-smokers, the participants’ heart rates took longer to recover after exercise, and their hearts had to work harder at peak levels.

Long-Standing Health Implications Of Vaping

While these recent studies highlight the direct impact vaping has on the heart, multiple past studies have illuminated the additional damage vaping can cause. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study reported how vaping could cause severe lung damage. As of February 2020, the CDC has reported that 2,800 e-cigarette users have required hospital admission due to e-cigarette product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), and 68 of these cases resulted in death. 

Additionally, multiple studies have revealed troubling links between e-cigarette use, Nicotine, and mental health. According to a 2019 JAMA study, current e-cigarette users have double the odds of receiving a diagnosis of depression compared to non-Nicotine users. Another study found that frequent e-cigarette use is associated with higher levels of depressive and ADHD symptoms. Moreover, Nicotine use is associated with more significant anxiety symptoms. Overall, multiple studies over the past several years have provided quantifiable data on the adverse effects of vaping on individuals’ mental, lung, and heart health.

How Addictive Is Vaping?

According to the CDC, approximately 8.1 million Americans currently use e-cigarettes, which contain the highly addictive substance Nicotine. Many who use Nicotine products develop a physical dependence, which involves physical and psychological factors that make it challenging to cease using them. Within minutes of breathing in the Nicotine vapors from an e-cigarette, the brain releases dopamine, which is a chemical that plays a part in pleasure, motivation, and learning. Over time, the brain craves the feeling elicited from the dopamine release, thus leading to more Nicotine use which can lead to Nicotine addiction.

Nicotine use is pervasive in the US, so it can be difficult to notice when it has developed into an addiction. Some signs of Nicotine addiction include:

• Withdrawal symptoms when one ceases Nicotine use
• An ability to stop using Nicotine products
• A desire to keep using Nicotine products despite adverse consequences
• Requiring more Nicotine to feel “satisfied” 
• Experiencing cravings and intense urges to use tobacco.

Who Is Most Affected By The Adverse Health Effects Of Vaping?

While anyone can face adverse health consequences because of vaping, specific communities face additional health risks. For example, e-cigarette use or any Nicotine product use is especially dangerous for pregnant women and their developing babies. Nicotine can expose the mother and child to toxic chemicals, and it can damage a developing baby’s brain and lungs. 

The term “epidemic” has been used in reference to vaping amongst young people, and with over 2 million middle and high schoolers using e-cigarettes daily, it’s hard not to. Youths are particularly susceptible to the harms of vaping as their brains and bodies are still developing. Nicotine can harm a young person’s memory and ability to concentrate, alter their brain development, and lessen their ability to control their impulses. Additionally, teens who vape are 3 times more likely to smoke cigarettes than their peers who have never smoked. 

Quitting E-Cigarettes 

It is common for those trying to quit Nicotine products, like e-cigarettes, traditional cigarettes, and chewing tobacco, to try multiple times before it sticks. Attempting to stop e-cigarettes multiple times could lead to feelings of discouragement, but recovery is possible and can improve one’s quality of life. Quitting Nicotine products can directly reduce health-related risks associated with the use and improve mental health symptoms, and treatment is available. 

Therapy for smoking cessation is a tool that many people find useful. Licensed therapist can help with setting goals and supporting cessation. Get matched with a therapist today to get started.

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On Thursday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued marketing denial orders (MDOs) to Juul Labs Inc. that mandates the company must stop selling and distributing “all of their products currently marketed in the US marketplace.” These products include the Juul e-cigarette device and 4 types of Juulpods, consisting of the Virginia tobacco-flavored pods with Nicotine concentrations of 3% and 5% and menthol-flavored pods with Nicotine concentrations of 3% and 5%. Furthermore, Juul, a powerhouse in the US e-cigarette market, must remove all products currently on the market, or they risk enforcement action.  

The FDA claims that the company failed to provide enough information proving the products were safe for people of any age, not just the youth. Juul’s “conflicting and insufficient data” prevented the FDA from assessing the potential health risks of its products. The FDA decision is a part of a campaign to review e-cigarettes to ensure they are “appropriate for the protection of public health.” This quote means that e-cigarette companies must prove through data that their products are more of an aid to adult traditional cigarette smokers than a risk to the youth and general public. 

Previous Investigations Into Juul’s Marketing Tactics

Juul has long been in the hot seat due to allegations that the company knowingly sought teenage users with intentional marketing. Four years ago, the FDA began investigating Juul’s marketing efforts. Previous marketing campaigns included video clips of young, “hip” individuals using the Juul e-cigarettes with “youth-friendly” flavored pods, including flavors like “crème brûlée” and “cool cucumber.” The company has since modified these particular flavor names to more specific titles and only uses real people, not actors, who have switched from cigarettes to Juul in its advertisements. 

James Monsees, one of Juul’s co-founders, previously stated that selling Juuls to young people was “antithetical to the company’s mission;” however, a former senior manager said that he and others in the company were “well aware” that the products could appeal to teenagers. In fact, the company went well beyond appealing to teenagers during its launch period, from June 2015 through early 2016. According to a 2020 lawsuit filed by the Massachusetts attorney general, Juul purchased ad space on numerous youth-focused websites, including Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, Seventeen magazine, and educational sites for middle and high school students.

Harms Of Nicotine On The Youth

E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, make Nicotine increasingly accessible and tempting to young people due to pervasive marketing and enticing flavors. According to the FDA, nearly 10.7 million young people ages 12-17 have used e-cigarettes or are open to trying them. Additionally, research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that two-thirds of Juul users aged 12-24 did not know that the company’s products always contain Nicotine. While e-cigarette users may inhale fewer toxins than traditional cigarette smokers, that is not to say that vaping is without its harm. Nicotine inhalation remains a serious health concern for teenagers, whose brains and bodies are still developing. Additionally, some e-cigarette products contain more Nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes. According to Juul, a single Juul pod contains as much Nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes.

The risks of vaping for young people include Nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control. Additionally, young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to try traditional cigarettes in the future, which is counter-intuitive to the mission of Juul and similar e-cigarette companies to reduce the number of adults using cigarettes.    

Are All E-Cigarettes Banned Now?

The FDA is not issuing a “blanket ban” on all e-cigarettes; however, the agency is reviewing applications for millions of products. The agency has only approved 23 applications for sale on the US market. For products to be approved, the benefits to public health must outweigh the potential harm, and the agency must consider if the product can help traditional cigarette smokers quit. 

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What’s Next For Juul, Other E-Cig Companies, And Consumers?

On Friday, a federal appeals court granted Juul a reprieve to keep selling its products pending further court review of the FDA’s decision to ban Juul’s products. The e-cigarette company argued that the FDA’s decision was influenced by political forces that wanted to blame the company for the youth vaping crisis. However, the FDA did not explicitly state underage use in its decision to ban Juul from the US market. It will be up to the appeals court to decide whether Juul should be allowed to sell its products while the company pursues its appeal of the FDA’s decision.

Those who have been using Juul products to transition away from cigarettes and cigars may switch to other electronic Nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products that the FDA has approved based on their potential to benefit adult smokers. Potential replacements approved by the FDA include products by R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, NJOY LLC, and Logic Technology Development LLC. It is unclear if the FDA’s ban of Juul products, if upheld, will set a precedent for other popular e-cigarette companies.

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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can now regulate the sale of synthetic Nicotine, a decision that could potentially wipe thousands of electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, products off the market. In March, President Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion omnibus, or multi-topic, bill that expands the definition of a “tobacco product” to include lab-made synthetic Nicotine and traditional tobacco-derived Nicotine. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) now defines tobacco products as “any product made or derived from tobacco, or containing Nicotine from any source, that is intended for human consumption.”

This redistricting of what constitutes a tobacco product targets the regulatory loophole that some producers of e-cigarettes exploited to keep their products on the market. Over time, the FDA has refused or denied to review the applications of over 5 million vaping products. Instead of taking their products off the shelves, e-cigarette companies switched to synthetic Nicotine, thus avoiding the previous definition of tobacco products. Since their products were no longer under the umbrella of tobacco products, they could continue to sell their products without FDA regulation.

Another driving force that pushed some e-cigarette companies to turn to synthetic Nicotine products involved a requirement by the FDA in 2016 for companies to prove that their tobacco products caused more good than harm. This notion of good versus harm was often measured in the benefit to individuals trying to stop smoking versus the potential dangers of youth vaping. Again, to avoid this regulation, synthetic Nicotine products were manufactured instead of products containing traditionally derived Nicotine from tobacco.

What Are E-Cigarettes And Synthetic Nicotine?

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid into an aerosol, or vapor, that is then inhaled by the user. Commonly referred to as vape pens, e-cigs, tank systems, or mods, individuals can also use these devices to administer Cannabinoids like Marijuana and other substances. Inside a vape pen, a cartridge stores the e-liquid or “e-juice.” Besides Nicotine, e-juice can contain artificial flavorings, volatile organic compounds (acrylamide, benzene, and propylene oxide), micro-fine particles that get inhaled into the lungs, and trace amounts of heavy metals like lead, nickel, and tin. The flavorings of e-liquid pods, including bubblegum, strawberry, and many others, have long been criticized for potentially luring adolescents to try vaping and to continue use. Additionally, some flavorings contain diacetyl, a chemical linked to a severe lung disease known as “popcorn lung.” Some companies, including e-cigarette giant Juul, stopped selling fruit-flavored vaping pods altogether after pressure from the FDA to curb youth vaping.

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Synthetic Nicotine, or lab-made Nicotine, is created in a laboratory and is not derived from tobacco like traditional Nicotine. This form of Nicotine is often marketed as “tobacco-free” as it does not contain any tobacco leaf, but under new regulations, synthetic Nicotine can no longer be marketed as such.

How Does This New Law Change E-Cigarette Production?

This change in regulatory law ensures that synthetic Nicotine and tobacco-derived Nicotine products are all regulated under the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products using the same benchmarks. This law will not ban vaping products and the production of vape pens, but it will have definite consequences for producers and consumers as popular products are potentially withdrawn from sale. For instance, back in 2020, the popular disposable e-cigarette company Puff Bar switched to a synthetic Nicotine formula after the FDA ordered the company to stop selling vapes as it had not followed the agency’s application process. This application process is often lengthy, as multiple big-name brands, including Juul, are still waiting to hear from the agency. The fate of companies like Puff Bar is unclear. To date, the FDA has only approved one vaping product, R.J. Reynolds’ Vuse Solo, and its corresponding tobacco-flavored e-liquid cartridges.

If Puff Bar, and similar companies, want to keep their synthetic Nicotine products on the shelf, they have until May 14 to make a premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) to the FDA. Once the PMTA is submitted, said products may remain on the market until July 13. Any synthetic Nicotine product that has not received FDA authorization by July 13 will be withdrawn from sale.

Criticisms Of The Bill

The response to the FDA’s new classification of tobacco products was split among 2 groups: those opposed to the shrinking number of cigarette alternatives and those in favor of further regulation of synthetic Nicotine products. Amanda Wheeler, president of the American Vapor Manufacturers Association, told Filter, “This bill ought to be called the Cigarette Protection Act, because the indisputable outcome will be countless more Americans pushed away from Nicotine vaping and back into combustible smoking.” For adults trying to quit smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes are often used to manage Nicotine cravings, but vaping is not without its dangers.

In contrast, some e-cigarette companies, including Juul, support the new regulatory law that will impact some of their largest synthetic Nicotine e-cigarette competitors. A Juul spokesperson previously stated that “illegally marketed and illicit products and products designed to evade federal and state oversight undermine harm reduction and a responsible e-vapor category.” By this sentiment, vaping companies and public health groups are in a tentative agreement.

The post Will E-Cigarettes Be Banned Under New Regulations? appeared first on Addiction Center.

Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, or Delta-8, is a compound found in cannabis that has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Sales of the compound in the United States increased by 144% from April 2020 to April 2021. THC is the part of the Marijuana plant that produces the “high” feelings associated with cannabis products.

Delta-8 is similar to the major cannabinoid compound found in Marijuana, Delta-9. Small amounts of it occur naturally in cannabis but most commercially available products are made by chemically converting Delta-9-THC or cannabidiol (CBD).  Although comparable to Delta-9, Delta-8 is said to be less potent as it’s concentrations in the Marijuana plant are much lower. Because of the milder high provided, the substance is often called “Marijuana-lite” or “diet weed.” Despite this, there are still risks to using these products due to a lack of research and regulation.

Effects Of Delta-8

The cannabis plant contains more than 500 naturally occurring chemical compounds. Of those compounds, 100 are cannabinoids which means they bind to the cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. This is what produces the high feelings of THC. Although Delta-9 is the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, Delta-8 can produce similar effects. The two compounds are almost identical in structure except for the location of a double bond. The double bond is found on the 8^th carbon in Delta-8’s structure and the 9^th carbon in Delta-9. This difference in double bond location makes Delta-8 less potent.

Because there is a lack of research, little is known about the effects of the substance’s use. Consumers report similar effects to THC. These effects include mild euphoria, happiness, uplifting feelings, and relief of pain. The possible adverse side effects are also not well researched but those who use Delta-8 products say confusion, anxiety, drowsiness, slow heart rate, numbness, fast heart rate, and low blood pressure can occur.

Legal Gray Area

Delta-8 is currently federally legal in the United States, essentially through a loophole. The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that has been revisited and renewed every 5 years since the 1930s. The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp with very small concentrations of THC from the definition of Marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Under this act, marijuana is listed as a schedule I controlled substance. The removal of hemp from the Farm Bill made it so cannabis products derived from hemp could legally be sold and used. Hemp is defined as cannabis products with less than .3% of THC. Because of its low concentrations of THC, the compound fits this description and is legal on a federal level.

Recently, 14 states have decided to make the extracted compound illegal to sell and use based on a lack of research on the effects. These states include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Utah. Additionally, Michigan, West Virginia, Virginia, and North Carolina have issued public safety warnings for the compound.

Lack Of Regulation

The biggest risk to using Delta-8 is the fact that the substance is not approved by the FDA and is therefore unregulated. This lack of regulation increases the chance of dangerous contaminants being present in the products being sold. The US Cannabis Council did a private lab test on 16 Delta-8 products purchased in California, Florida, Nevada, Texas, Michigan, and Massachusetts. In this test, all but 1 sample contained amounts of illicit Delta-9. Additionally, several contained traces of heavy metals. Leafreport tested 38 Delta-8 products and had similar results. More than half had illicit levels of Delta-9. This test also showed the mislabeling that occurs with the compound because it is unregulated. 32% of the tested products matched the advertised amount while the rest were 10.7% to 102.7% off from the label.

Using Delta-8 can be dangerous because of how the compounds are sometimes extracted. Manufacturers may use dichloromethane which emits highly toxic fumes when exposed to heat. Occasionally the compound is extracted with things like battery acid and pool chemicals. Because of the unregulated market, chemicals can sometimes be left in the products and can be harmful when eaten, smoked, or vaped.

Increasing Delta-8 Incidents

The legal gray area that Delta-8 exists in makes it so there are no age restrictions on the purchase of these products. Additionally, young children and teenagers have the risk of accidentally taking Delta-8 as packaging is often like CBD. Low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, severe sedation, coma, and psychological effects can be caused when a younger person uses Delta-8. Long term effects are not known at this point.

Reported incidents have been increasing with the compound’s popularity. The North Carolina Poison Control Center reported having 157 cases related to Delta-8. Because the compound has not been studied extensively, many healthcare workers don’t know much about the substance or how to best treat those with adverse side effects.

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Experts continue to warn against the use of Delta-8. Its potential benefits and medical uses are mostly spread by word-of-mouth and social. These claims do not have research to back them up. The unregulated market of Delta-8 makes the substance dangerous to purchase from places like connivence stores and boutique weed dispensaries.

The post The Increasing Popularity Of Delta 8 Raises Concerns appeared first on Addiction Center.

On February 5, the CEOs of five e-cigarette vendors  (JUUL Labs, Inc., Fontem Ventures, NJOY, Logic Vapes, and Reynolds American) testified in Congress before the Oversight and Investigation Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. As lawsuits and public backlash continue to barrage the American e-cigarette industry, the Committee members questioned the five executives about whether the companies they lead marketed their nicotine-based products to children and teenagers.

A JAMA study published last November estimated that 27.5% of high student students and 10.5% of middle school students in America smoke e-cigarettes, even though the FDA and many doctors warn that vaping might cause nicotine addiction and damage adolescents’ lungs. The majority of underage smokers vape with JUUL devices, according to the research. At the hearing, JUUL CEO K.C. Crosthwaite expressed concern about the problem. “I fully recognize that the opportunity for the millions of adult smokers who still use combustible cigarettes to have an alternative is at risk if we don’t address this issue,” Crosthwaite told the Subcommittee as he vowed to keep his company “focused on combating underage access.”

Crosthwaite and the other CEOs all denied allegations that the e-cigarette industry targets children and adolescents. As evidence, several of the CEOs informed the Subcommittee that their companies had voluntarily stopped selling sweet-flavored and mint-flavored vaping products even before the FDA banned them last year. The FDA asserts that young people are most likely to use such products.

Most of the CEOs also touted their policy of suspending social media marketing campaigns which appeal to underage viewers. One Subcommittee member, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), condemned Foment CEO Antoine Blonde as the “odd man out” because his company still pays online “influencers” to promote BLU e-cigarettes.

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Disposable Vapes And FDA Oversight

The proliferation of open-system and disposable vaping devices was a major topic at the hearing. The FDA policy against flavored vaping products went into effect on February 6, but the policy only affects devices with closed-system cartridges, such as JUUL e-cigarettes. Closed-system devices have cartridges (or “pods”) pre-filled with e-juice. While these products still dominate the e-cigarette market, vape pens with refillable, open-system cartridges and single-use, disposable “puff bars” are becoming more popular. These products also contain nicotine and offer a variety of flavors.

Meredith Berkman, the co-founder of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes (PAVE), told the Subcommittee that the FDA should extend its flavored-devices ban to all vaping devices. Meanwhile, Gregory Conley of the American Vaping Association criticized the Subcommittee for only questioning “one side of the industry,” that is, closed-system e-cigarette manufacturers. Conley also accused Congress of attempting to usurp the FDA as America’s tobacco regulator.

Throughout the hearing, the five executives appeared to agree with Conley’s position by frequently deferring to FDA oversight. In response to questions about disposable devices, NJOY CEO Ryan Nivakoff cited “the fact that the FDA excluded the disposables from the guidance completely” to absolve his company from any obligation to withdraw them from the market.

On other issues, such as whether nicotine is harmful and whether regulations on cigarettes should apply to e-cigarettes, the CEOs stated that the FDA should decide. When Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) asked if JUUL would initiate a sales freeze, Crosthwaite replied that the review of his company’s application for FDA approval is “the process we think is best to make that determination.”

Despite the executives’ statements about combatting underage vaping, Committee Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) ended the hearing on a note of skepticism. “I heard all of you over and over say you are responsible men, men of integrity. That is not true,” he declared. “If you want to be men of integrity, responsible men, you would not be selling this product.”

JUUL Restructuring Continues

Under the suspicious gaze of lawmakers and regulators, America’s largest e-cigarette company is working to adapt to new rules and a tougher playing field. After Crosthwaite became JUUL CEO last year, he cut the company’s expenditures by $1 billion and dismissed over 650 employees. He also suspended advertising and political lobbying to signal cooperation with the government after a surge of vaping-related respiratory illnesses shocked the country, although there is no evidence JUUL products caused the crisis.

In the past year, over 300 parties have filed lawsuits against JUUL for allegedly marketing e-cigarettes to adolescents. After the hearing, Pennsylvania joined New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and California in a bloc of states suing JUUL. The legal pressure has impacted the company’s profits. Last October, JUUL’s market valuation fell to $24 billion from its $38 billion valuation in 2018, the year the tobacco giant Altria Group, Inc. bought a 35% share of the company. Altria has since reported about $8 billion in impairment fees for its JUUL investment. Even still, JUUL has raised over $700 million in convertible debt from investors, a sign of the company’s intent to persevere.

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Recent vaping trends reveal troubling statistics. As of December 2019, American vaping-related deaths rose to 33 nationwide deaths. The CDC “has linked vaping to 1,479 cases of a mysterious lung disease” over the last 6 months. Over 75% of these cases were directly linked to e-cigarettes, and to users, “younger than 35.” Since the rise of vaping and lung illnesses, many have become concerned with the resulting pattern of the lung damage.

Research Finds Contaminants In Vape Liquid

Mayo Clinic researchers have connected lung damage to chemical burns. This belief is largely because of the toxin exposure in the lung is comparable to a direct chemical injury. The individual puts themselves in the way of toxins released through chemical fumes and harmful gases.

Side effects of excessive vape use can be addiction. Since some pens have nicotine, the ingredient can create an addiction in users. As teens are still developing vital organs, vaping can damage the brain. Parents can recognize the bloodshot eyes, the sweet smell their teens have when smoking vape pens, irritability, and excessive thirst. In a study, researchers have taken samples of lung tissue from 17 individuals—those who vaped, with most having used cannabis or cannabis oil. Less than 3 samples had been taken from those who have passed. The evidence concluded that the oils and chemicals in vape liquid were extremely toxic. Many wonder if these contaminants are responsible for the lung injuries in vaping cases.

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What’s Being Done About Vaping And Lung Disease

The FDA and the CDC are conducting much research to minimize THC vape use. They have become committed to connecting with public officials for solutions. The FDA has begun analyzing vape pen samples they receive, allowing for examination of ingredients for study. The FDA will examine vape pens for hazardous materials, such as cutting agents, pesticides, opiates, heavy metals, and toxins. Health officials are continuing to notify the public of the dangers of vaping.

What Parents Can Do

Parents should be aware of their children’s vaping practices. If a parent finds vape pens in their child’s room, this is a sign that a conversation is needed. Vaping has consequences for young adults both legally and health wise. Individuals under the age of 18 are not legally able to have e-cigarettes or vape pens. Unfortunately, vape pens cause health risks to teens like lung illness and infection. Parents can also contact a treatment provider to decide whether or not rehab is ideal for their teen.

The post Chemical Exposure And Vaping-Related Lung Disease Linked, Research Finds appeared first on Addiction Center.

On March 21, Juul Labs, Inc. fired Siddharth Breja from his job as senior vice president for global finance. Now, Breja alleges that he was forced to leave Juul for urging the company to take action to protect the public from a contaminated batch of its own products. On November 5, Breja filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Juul in federal court in San Francisco, the location of the company’s headquarters. According to the lawsuit, Breja discovered that Juul had sold its customers about 250,000 “mint refill kits” with contaminated and expired “e-juice,” the nicotine-based liquid that e-cigarettes burn to emit vapor.

Mint became a popular flavor for vaping enthusiasts when Juul stopped selling sweet-flavored products in an effort to prevent children and teenagers from smoking. Breja claims that the demand for mint-flavored “e-juice” was so high that Juul did not carefully monitor the quality of its e-juice supply. However, he has not specified what contaminated the refill kits. The 250,000 refill kits at issue could fill at least one million e-juice pods.

No Expiration Dates, No Recall

Breja explains in his lawsuit that he recommended as early as February that Juul label its products with expiration dates. However, former CEO Kevin Burns allegedly dismissed the idea that Juul customers would care whether the e-juice in their devices was past its prime. Burns denies Breja’s accusation of ignoring his concerns about product quality.

When Breja learned that Juul had shipped contaminated refill kits and expired pods to retailers, he urged the company to recall them and issue a health and safety notice. Instead, Juul tasked Breja with charging Alternative Liquids, Inc., the company’s supplier, for the problems with the e-juice. Breja was troubled by what he called the “hypocritical approach of not informing the customers about the contamination on one hand – claiming it was not a serious issue – and charging the supplier for it on the other hand.” One week later, Juul fired Breja under what he alleges were false pretenses in retaliation for his suggestions.

Breja also claims that Juul expected him and other company executives to refrain from keeping written documents about health or regulatory issues. He says this precaution was intended to prevent the DEA and the FBI from accessing information about the company from its internal records. The Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, several congressional committees, and five states are currently investigating Juul for marketing its products to adolescents. Juul is also facing multiple lawsuits for allegedly causing an outbreak of vaping-related respiratory illnesses, although most of these cases resulted from vaping with marijuana concentrates, not with a Juul device.

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Juul Responds To Breja’s Lawsuit

A spokesman for Juul quickly denounced Breja’s lawsuit as frivolous, denying his reports about product contamination and his claim that Juul fired him for speaking up about it. “He was terminated in March 2019 because he failed to demonstrate the leadership qualities needed in his role,” spokesman Ted Kwong told several media outlets. “The allegations concerning safety issues with Juul products are equally meritless, and we already investigated the underlying manufacturing issue and determined the product met all applicable specifications.”

Kevin Burns also responded to Breja’s lawsuit by calling it “absolutely false and pure fiction” and insisting that he “had the company make huge investments in product quality” when he was CEO. Whether or not Breja’s claims are true or survive the scrutiny of a trial, they certainly pose a PR problem for Juul. In an attempt to revive the company’s image, new CEO K.C. Crosthwaite is restructuring the company’s leadership. Since Crosthwaite replaced Burns in September, Juul’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Marketing Officer have both left the company. Crosthwaite has also begun the process of reducing Juul’s workforce by 10% to 15%.

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ABC News covered the vaping outbreak in a recent article which surveyed the reaction of many doctors who responded to the vaping crisis in America. According to the CDC, there were 1,479 lung injuries cases due to e-cigarettes, or vape pens in October 2019. The findings were obtained from 49 states (all except for Alaska). Additional statistics have confirmed 33 vape-related deaths occurred in 24 states.

An additional 800 lung injuries, 12 deaths nationwide, and the reported 62% of individuals affected between 18 and 34 have shocked many. Out of these statistics, 38% are under 21 years of age. News headlines discuss the dangers of vaping, with articles debating whether the vape pens are toxic or the unregulated ingredients and chemicals in them. Insurmountable numbers of individuals who have died or have been injured caused official Surgeon General Jerome Adams  dubbed the increase of vaping incidents as “an E-cigarette epidemic.”

Vaping Risks And Attitudes In Young Adults

There is much literature and information concerning the impact of vaping on adolescents. Between 2011 to 2015, there was a spike in teen vaping cases. Vape pens, e-hookahs, tank systems and mods contain may contains THC and other harmful chemicals that put smokers at risk of lung problems. More specifically, the THC in some vaping materials put users at risk of addiction. Similar to other addictive chemicals in drugs, the feelings of pleasure smoking vape pens create can activate the brain’s reward system.

Other risks include developmental effects on the brain, “which can impact moods and attention,” combining E-cigarettes with other drugs, harmful impacts on one’s mind, and second-hand smoke. When someone becomes addicted to vaping, he or she may feel relaxed when they are smoking. Consequently, stopping suddenly can create uncomfortable feelings of cravings.

A recently published article discusses high schoolers and juuling, or the use of Juul e-cigarettes, and the attitudes teens had surrounding vaping. Beliefs that it was cooler than cigarettes and more accepted was a common statement. Other opinions such as the flavors keeping teens attracted to vape pens, along with harmful nicotine was a factor in vape pen use. Another teen noted vaping was hard to stop because it was “so intense.” Such opinions have become a warning to people to stop vaping.

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What Doctors Are Saying

Regardless, the vaping trend has many officials and parents worried. Physicians at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin may have felt some responsibility in the growing trend, “when treating four teenagers suffering from illness.”  Doctors of patients struggling with respiratory and breathing problems noticed a pattern of teens using vape pens.

Doctors found there were additional symptoms, like shortness of breath, weight loss, coughing, all of which have been pinpointed to vape use. What was interesting in the lung illness patterns was the inclusion of THC, “with or without nicotine.”  As a result, doctors are informing people to be honest with their physicians and get treated immediately.

Communicating with one’s healthcare professional creates truth between patient and the doctor. It also gives the doctor the chance to monitor the patient’s health. Other doctors are urging people to stop vaping all together, as there are several stories of individuals being harmed by the entire vaping process. If you or someone you know struggles with vaping or struggles to stop, contact a medical professional to determine the best care.

The post Doctors Speak Out Against Vaping Outbreak appeared first on Addiction Center.

On September 25, Juul Labs, Inc. replaced its CEO with a veteran of Big Tobacco and suspended all advertising on TV, in print media, and online. The company also vowed to suspend political lobbying and reaffirmed its intention to fully comply with federal and state policies that target the e-cigarette industry.

As the largest e-cigarette company in the United States, Juul has weathered intense criticism and mounting restrictions from policymakers in the past few months as hundreds of cases of vaping-related respiratory illnesses and seizures, some of them fatal, capture public attention. Although there is no evidence that Juul or any other company is responsible for these problems, the latest measures from Juul represent the company’s efforts to improve its public relations and remain profitable. The challenges facing Juul have affected the entire tobacco industry by disrupting a merger between Altria Group, Inc. and Phillip Morris International, two tobacco corporations with major stakes in the “alternative cigarettes” business.

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Warnings And Bans

In 2015, Juul Labs, Inc. started selling e-cigarettes. Two years later, Kevin Burns left Chobani, a Greek yogurt company, and joined Juul as CEO. The company went on to capture about 70% of the American e-cigarette market. Juul performed so well in 2018, with sales tripling from January to October, that Altria purchased 35% of the company for $12.8 billion. Altria is the owner of the Marlboro tobacco brand.

Juul owes much of its success to its flavored e-cigarettes, which account for 80% of its sales. Younger people are most likely to vape with flavored devices. Since much of Juul’s marketing was youth-oriented, “juuling” became so popular with teenagers last year that the U.S. Surgeon-General declared it an epidemic.

To protect adolescents from a potential source of nicotine addiction, the states of Michigan, Rhode Island, and New York banned the sale of flavored e-cigarettes last month while Massachusetts banned the sale of all vaping devices for the remainder of the year. Meanwhile, the federal Department of Health and Human Services imposed a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes throughout the entire United States as cities and states across the country issue public health warnings about the dangers of e-cigarettes, which currently lack FDA approval. The state of California has even targeted Juul with a criminal investigation.

A New Leader And A Cancelled Merger

The new restrictions on the e-cigarette industry have caused Juul’s market valuation to collapse by over $10 billion. As uncertainty looms over the company’s future, Kevin Burns stepped aside as CEO to make way for an experienced tobacco executive whom many expect will be better able to guide Juul through its regulatory troubles. K.C. Crosthwaite, the former chief strategy and growth officer at Altria, will now lead the company.

I have long believed in a future where adult smokers overwhelmingly choose alternative products like Juul. Unfortunately, today that future is at risk due to unacceptable levels of youth usage and eroding public confidence in our industry. Against that backdrop, we must strive to work with regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders, and earn the trust of the societies in which we operate.

Under Crosthwaite’s leadership, Juul signaled its willingness to cooperate with policymakers last week by suspending its fundraising campaign to overturn city ordinances in San Francisco that prohibit e-cigarette sales.

Since Altria is Juul’s single largest shareholder, the recent clampdown on e-cigarettes has impacted Altria’s position in the tobacco industry. In August, Philip Morris International and Altria began negotiations for a $187 billion merger. The merger would have consolidated two of the world’s largest tobacco firms, resulting in a corporation with a market value three-times larger than British American Tobacco, the owner of Vuse, Juul’s competitor. Nevertheless, Phillip Morris International suspended merger negotiations with Altria on September 25 because of its investors’ concerns that Juul would be a liability.

The two companies still plan to collaborate on launching the iQOS, a cigarette-like device that heats, rather than burns, tobacco. Unlike e-cigarettes, the iQOS has FDA approval. Altria will sell the iQOS in the United States and Phillip Morris International will sell it overseas.

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