SEARCY, Ar. (LP) — Over the past two or less years, the highly known e-cig or the “JUUL” became very popular with college students and highschool students. In 2017, the e-cigarette market expanded by 40 percent, to $1.16 billion only to the push of the JUUL. The e-cig offers many different flavors and that is catching many young teens eyes. It is becoming a very popular thing an only for students to bring it into public places, such as schools. Over the past few first weeks of school many students have been caught with them or being caught with the use of them. The e-cig is only supposed to make it easier for adult smokers to be able to stop smoking cigarettes, not supposed to be hooking more people; especially young teens. The JUUL is making a very large impact on some students grades, behaviors, and also social interactions.
The fact of students bringing the product onto school campus is not the greatest decision for them. This could lead them into getting into much more trouble than they bargain for. The administration does not like the fact of students using these products and only making things worse for their life ahead of them. Assistant Principal Clay McCammon stated, “It’s a distraction to the students here at the school and it takes away from the learning environment.” The fact of these things hurting the school environment and getting in the way of students learning. One of the big factors is the long term effects of these e-cigs. “The uncertainty of the long term health effects of the e-cigs and that’s the most concern to me.” All of the administration has different looks at the fact of their students having these, some think it’s the worst thing in the world for them. Most teachers are worried about the long term effects as well. “We are treating these items the same as a classic cigarette or a normal tobacco product,” McCammon stated.
On the other side of looks the opinions & thoughts are very much different with the students. Although both sides have a different view on JUULs and what not.”I think it’s their life, if that’s how they wanna live it and that’s how they want to do it” stated junior student, Jerred Sandfur. Although, it is the students life to make their own choices but when it comes to bringing that substance on school grounds it’s a different situation. Many students don’t put into consideration of the long term effects of the e-cigarettes. Most of these have only one similar thing in them from the actual cigarettes, nicotine. Jerred also stated “It’s their body and their own choice, let them do it.” Not all young teens or young adults agree with people having these items. Some people really think it be “cool” you need to have one or be able to use one of these. “There are some teens that think it’s good or OK to have one” says Jerred.
Over the past year the company JUUL has quickly rose up and only to be the biggest seller in the e-cigarette industry. There are several different opinions and the views about these are ongoing.
