“Yo, let’s open up the windows so we can smoke”, is what I hear a 9th grader say at 8 A.M. on a Monday morning. He takes what looks like a black USB out of his pocket and puts it in his mouth, sighing with relief when he breathes in, the nicotine quickly setting in. He opens his mouth and the fresh smell of cucumber fills the air.

Juul is the controversial company that created this portable vape. It was designed to help smokers quit their dangerous addiction. By having nicotine in the Juul, smokers are able to quit smoking cigarettes and slowly wean off of nicotine in a healthier way.

If Juuls were designed for adult smokers, why are the main consumers of Juuls teenagers who have never smoked a cigarette in their lives? Is it a social thing? Do they feel the need to fit in? Kids need to do what their peers are doing. They want to be cool in the eyes of everyone they come across. That becomes such a desire that teenagers are willing to sacrifice their own health. Even though they don’t start Juuling in order to satisfy their nicotine cravings, they soon need to continue for that exact reason. Each “Juul Pod” contains the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes. It becomes a vicious cycle after you become hooked. Your tolerance grows and you’re quickly spending $20 every few days to feed your addiction.

As of now, side effects of Juuling are yet to be discovered due to their short lifespan, but they can still act as a gateway drug. People believe that Juuls have no negative effects, so they decide to try other things. Maybe they get drunk with a group of friends on a Friday night, or they hit a Dab Pen in the boys locker room before going to class high.

Not only is Juuling a social thing, but many people find it fun. They come in all sorts of flavors, from cucumber to mint to mango. Teens enjoy tasting those flavors as they blow clouds into the air, and maybe they’ve even been doing it long enough that they can do tricks. The simple fact that Juuling is bad for you is quickly dismissed when its fun.

So, ask yourself, is it a bathroom you walk into, or a Juuling room filled with addiction and self harm?