What is Juuling? And What Should You Do if Your Kids Are Doing it?

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who would deny the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes. But what about Juuling? Ja-what?, you might say. Juuling—or vaping—is a new trend amongst teenagers around the country. And though many teens think it’s cool, is it really that different than lighting up a traditional cigarette?

A Juul is a brand of e-cigarette, and juuling has evolved as a verb that essentially means vaping. The vape pen heats pods of liquid nicotine that the user inhales. These pods come in a variety of flavors, ranging from creme brulee and mango to cool mint and Virginia tobacco. Each Juul cartridge—which lasts about 200 puffs—has as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes, according to TIME.

There has been a sharp decline in teens smoking traditional cigarettes, but an increase in teens using e-cigarettes, according to the CDC.

“The problem with the juuling device is they say they are manufactured for adults, but it is manufactured in a way that appeals to children,” Deborah Wheeler, superintendent of the Upper Dublin school district in eastern Pennsylvania, told the Washington Post. “Students don’t realize it is still dangerous and harmful to their health.”

A Juul resembles a flash drive and can be charged in a laptop’s USB port, making it technologically friendly and easy to conceal.