Parents, educators, e-cigarette makers, and others continue to wait for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a decision about whether JUUL vaping products could remain on the market. The decision was expected in September 2021, but it was delayed.
The FDA’s September 2021 E-Cigarette Decision
While the FDA delayed its JUUL decision, the agency rejected applications for FDA approval for almost 950,000 other e-cigarettes and related products because of the products’ potential appeal to children and teenagers. Some of these products were already on the market and will no longer be sold in the United States.
According to reports, products could only remain on the market if manufacturers could convince the FDA that their e-cigarettes benefited public health. Typically, e-cigarette manufacturers needed to show the FDA that their products helped adult smokers reduce or quit their use of traditional tobacco products and that teens were unlikely to become addicted to them.
Currently, there is no indication of when the FDA may issue its decision on JUUL products.
Vaping Remains Dangerous
The FDA may have delayed its JUUL decision, but the risks of vaping are now well-known. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the risks for children and teens include:
- Brain risks. The nicotine contained in e-cigarettes can impact the brain. Human brains are not fully developed until the age of 25. Nicotine exposure may interfere with the way synapses form and create issues with control, attention, and learning. Additionally, children and young adults may develop mood disorders and other neurological issues.
- Addiction. Adolescents may become addicted more easily than adults because their brains are still developing and learning new skills. Nicotine addiction can occur from vaping. Additionally, nicotine addiction may make other drug addictions more likely.
- Behavior risks. Evidence suggests that vaping may increase a teenager’s likelihood to use other tobacco products, alcohol, and drugs.
- Lung disease. Nicotine, flavorings, heavy metals, and aerosols may cause serious, sometimes life-threatening lung and respiratory diseases.
Other risks include burns from fires and explosions and cancer from nicotine exposure.
Don’t Delay Action If Your Child Has Been Hurt by a JUUL Product
The FDA delayed its JUUL decision, but you should not delay taking action if JUULing has hurt your child or teenager.
JUUL Labs maintains that it did not market its products to people under the age of 18. However, sick teens, their parents, school districts, and state attorney generals disagree. For example, the Massachusetts Attorney General maintains that JUUL intentionally marketed its products to young people by rejecting a marketing campaign featuring adult smokers, advertising in places where teens and children were likely to see it, making flavored products that would appeal to younger people, failing to verify age before sending direct emails, and selling to underage customers.
You don’t need to know whether you have a JUUL injury case before you contact one of our lawyers. We recognize that the government’s regulation and JUUL’s marketing campaign are in flux, but your child has rights. If your child began JUULing before their 18th birthday, we encourage you to contact us to learn more about your child’s rights.
Your child may be able to recover for past and future damages, including healthcare costs, lost income, out-of-pocket expenses, physical pain, and emotional suffering.
If your child is still a minor, then you may bring a lawsuit on your child’s behalf. If your child is already 18 or older, then your child may bring their own lawsuit for damages. Either way, you have a limited amount of time to take action, and an experienced lawyer can help you take on a large company like JUUL that has lawyers working to protect its financial interests.
Our New England mass tort lawyers will explain your child’s rights to you and evaluate your child’s potential JUUL injury lawsuit. Let us help you protect your child’s future. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation in our Natick law office or by phone.
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