How the Juul Settlement is Shaping School Safety: What Administrators Need to Know

Tobacco marketers have long targeted youth before being slapped with lawsuits and new regulations. In the late 1980s and early 90s, these companies used cartoon characters in ads which subtly influenced minors to purchase cigarettes. The U.S. attorneys general settled with major tobacco companies in 1998, effectively banning them from advertising to minors. 

With Millennials marked safe from Joe Camel, tobacco use among middle schoolers dropped by more than 15% between 2000 and 2009. Enter the e-cigarette. Marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, companies including Juul made millions getting people (including teens) hooked on flavored vapes. By 2019, an estimated 27% of teens used e-cigarettes regularly, prompting concerned parents and teachers to sue Juul Labs. 

What is the Juul Settlement? 

Juul has had to settle multiple class action lawsuits. The company also has to change how it markets products. New Juul ads can only feature people over 35 and the company can’t put billboards near schools or playgrounds. Juul and other e-cigarette manufacturers also have to disclose nicotine content. 

Key Components of the Settlement

Multiple cities, counties, school districts, states, and Native American tribes have sued Juul since 2019 claiming that the company targeted youth by glamorizing vaping and sending sales representatives to schools. 

Since then, the company has agreed to pay more than $2 billion to those impacted by deceptive marketing. Notably, Juul has settled with individual states and school districts who plan on using the money to prevent kids from using e-cigarettes. 

The Impact of Vaping on School Safety

When Juul e-cigarettes hit the market in the mid-2010s, they were touted to adult smokers as a safer alternative to cigarettes. Lured in by flashy ads, influencers, celebrities, and Juul salespeople, teens picked up vaping in big numbers. Over half of teen vapers said it helps with anxiety, and half like the flavors. They are also setting themselves up for negative health effects. 

Health Implications for Students

Teens who are addicted to nicotine risk permanently damaging their brains, specifically the parts that manage impulse control, attention, mood, and learning. Vape aerosol also has chemicals such as formaldehyde (which is also used in taxidermy – fun fact). This and other chemicals can damage the lungs and eventually cause cancer. 

Even non-vapers are at risk. Vape aerosol can trigger asthma attacks and other breathing problems. Multiple people vaping in one room raises the level of nicotine and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). 

Behavioral and Safety Challenges

Students with nicotine addictions can get anxious and aggressive when they can’t get their fixstart to experience nicotine withdrawal. These school students might become disruptive or pick fights with other kids until they can take a vape break.  

How Schools are Using the Juul Settlement Funds

Many school districts involved in the Juul class action lawsuit settlement are using the money to take back their schools through education, and prevention, and deterrence. 

Anti-Vaping Education Initiatives

Across the country, school districts are investing their Juul lawsuit settlement claims to educate children and teens on the dangers of vaping products. Programs including Catch My Breath offer pre-packaged training and educational materials aimed at prevention. 

The American Lung Association’s Vape-Free Schools initiative is designed to help nicotine-addicted school students quit. This initiative trains educators and school leaders how to help students find healthier alternatives instead of disciplining them for vaping. 

Anti-vaping education also teaches students to recognize deceptive marketing and how to stand up to others who may be pressuring them into vaping.

Safety Technologies to Monitor Vaping

Anti-vaping education arms kids with the knowledge to make good choices. Safety technology helps educators and school administrators identify students in violation of vaping policies and get them the support they need to kick the habit. This technology can also serve as a deterrent—students caught violating their school’s vaping policy can face detention or suspension. catch people vaping without having to rely on snitches. Vape detectors measure indoor air quality and alert school officials whenever someone is vaping in a certain confined area. 

These devices help faculty pinpoint areas of the school in which kids think they can vape discreetly. Having vVape detectors deters students from vaping in locker rooms, bathrooms, and other common areas, because they know they’ll get caught and likely get in troubleface some sort of punishment. It also frees other students from having to breath in vape particles just because they need to use the restroom or change clothes before gym class. 

Some vape detectors also monitor overall indoor air quality data, so you as an administrator or building manager can tackle ventilation and other issues that are impacting your air quality. 

Engaging Parents and the Community

E-cigarettes are relatively new, and parents may be just as in the dark as their kids when it comes to the negative health consequences and potential risks. School districts are using their Juul settlements to develop prevention programs that involve parents alongside students. 

Parents, coaches, and others in the community learn the dangers of electronic cigarettes and get pointers on how to tell if their kids are vaping. These programs also offer resources and support parents can use to help their kids quit. If parents are vaping or smoking traditional cigarettes, these vaping prevention programs may also help them quit to model good behavior to their kids. 

With social media and other technology, today’s kids face a different set of challenges than their parents. School districts are tackling this issue by giving adults the resources they need to create a support system for their kids, even if they don’t understand their emotional needs. 

Some states have chosen to tackle the problem by addressing mental health issues that may lead kids to start vaping in the first place. Schools across the state of Colorado are using grant money from the Juul settlement to improve after-school activities and teach children problem-solving and coping skills. 

Strengthen School Safety and Student Health Now

As a school administrator, you are dedicated to creating a safe and healthy environment that encourages students to learn and build social connections. Installing vape detectors is one step you can take to deter vaping and keep your students safe. 

Attune offers indoor air quality monitoring and vape detection solutions that give you real-time access to contaminant levels in your school. Our system is easy to set up, and you can monitor it through a smart phone or computer. Take the first step in vape-proofing your school. Contact us today to learn how we can help.