CLEVELAND, Ohio — E-cigarette maker Juul reached a $438 million settlement with 33 states, including Ohio, earlier this week.
The settlement followed an investigation into Juul’s marketing practices, which investigators said were targeting minors.
Ohio State University's Dr. Loren Wold has been researching Juuls and their effects on youth and explained why the company was being investigated.
What You Need To Know
- Juul settled with 33 states over their marketing pracitces that were geared towards minors
- Dr. Loren Wold, a researcher at Ohio State University, explained why Juul was investigated
- Dr. Wold said his findings show the negative heart health effects vaping has on the youth
“Juul has used marketing tactics to really draw in youth," said Wold. "Using social media influencers, using attractive models to promote their products and not talking at all about any potential health hazards."
Dr. Wold said this type of marketing reminded of the way that cigarette companies used to market their products.
“I think that unfortunately the companies have fallen back to tactics from, that were used, with traditional cigarettes,” he said.
He and his team have been researching vaping effects on the youth by using mice.
“We’ve shown that if you expose animals starting at an age equivalent to in between 12 and 15 in a human, that if you assess them at adulthood, they have persistent cardiac dysfunction,” Wold said.
After the Juul settlement announcement, he has hopes that this will prevent other e-cigarette companies from marketing to minors.
“Really make the companies take notice that there are harsh penalties for adverse practices, particularly with marketing, with product placement, etc,” he said.
Dr. Wold hopes to help reduce the number of children that partake in vaping by educating them on the health effects it can have on their bodies.