Ashley, You're Not a Crackhead / How to Quit Juuling
I know, I know, this may be tough to hear but, Ashley, or whoever is reading this, you're not a crackhead. You're just a girl/guy who rips a Juul, can smash a White Claw or Y-Bomb in five seconds, probably eating terribly, feeling like shit constantly, spending late nights not sleeping, or skipping class from going out the night prior. Throughout this mess, you're probably relying on the Juul to get through it all. Also if you are like this, you're probably living a not so concrete lifestyle so, ask yourself these questions, Is it healthy? Is it benefitting you? How do your body and mental health feel on a day to day basis? Isn't this the same generation that was brought up on the no-smoking campaigns? Our generation is known for being able to take down corporate cigarette companies, but why are we still smoking again after all these years?
It's black, it's sleek, it's electronic, and it's the Juul. But what exactly is a Juul and how is it different than the cigarette? The Juul is a two-piece system consisting of a device and the liquid-filled pod. When combined one gets a more flavorful hit than your average cigarette, as well as more nicotine and artificial flavoring, justifying the rapid increase in the epidemic of youth and Juul addiction. Even worse, one pod is the equivalent to one pack of cigarettes, meaning the Juul is the most addictive of the e-cigarette brands. And that's not all: the smoke that comes out of any e-cigarette is not just water vapor, but toxic chemicals similar to that of a cigarette. Another chemical that was found in a study group's body was acrylonitrile, which can irritate your lungs. Speaking of, just this past year, Chance Ammirata, 18-year old student at FIU, was affected by the Juul. Most likely due to that exact chemical, Ammirata's lung collapsed. Yup, your favorite mint Juul pod was what Ammirata was killing every two days, and that officially could've killed him.
The irony of all this is that Chance never smoked a day in his life before the Juul. Juul claims that their product was created for adult smokers, not for the youth, and never has and never will create images that depict youth using the Juul. But how has a product like this, something none of us ever thought we would become addicted to, become as trendy as it has? It's unsure how a product so new and recent, and made intentionally for a whole different market, originated in millennial to gen z culture. What is sure, is how the Juul has spread to your back pocket or has become your mini backpack necessity or accessory. Aside from the addictive flavors, Juul has become another way to disguise or hide a person's way of socialization. For example, those water vapor smoke tricks could have started for a variety of reasons: social status, social experience, self-gratification, or pressure from an outside group. In a way the Juul may be an alter ego in itself: one feels cooler, edgier, more laidback, and more of a risk-taker. This can also be proven from how smoke tricks became cool and eventually into relatable memes as seen on Vine (RIP).
Ammirata even recalls, "I never thought taking that first hit, trying it for the first time, following a trend would EVER lead to something more than a choice…everyone was doing it…just using it when they were stressed…" It's also possible that the start of Juul was more likely from college-aged people in the sense that it does relieve stress, just as the cigarette would. But with all the various forms of social media and how the use of a Juul is portrayed (i.e. at a tailgate, party, or the library) it's easy to see why even younger and younger generations are starting to pick one up.
So, now do you want to take a hit? If not, here are some helpful tips, words of encouragement, and thoughts about quitting from Reddit's recovering Juul addicts that we're able to quit the stick:
"Keep it out of the house. I only Juul in the car and out with friends. Hasn't cut it out completely but it's helping curb it." – FPSXpert
"Instead I've replaced my juul breaks with tea breaks, specifically mint tea." – yeeeeeeeet20129
"If you break down and hit your Juul your progress isn't down the drain and a slip up isn't a reason to quit quitting." – Agitated_Use
"After a year of going through a 4-pack a week, I was done with spending money on this shit. I liked the buzz, but the shit in the media and the price tag got excessive… I had one solid day of hell transitioning from 5% to 3%. But after that nothing. By the end of the second pack I was so used to the lower level of nicotine that I just felt sober, no more buzz, no more rush, nothing. I threw my Juul in the trash and haven't had a single withdrawal or craving in the 2 weeks since I quit…" – Shedderdude
"juuling was great but it gave me breathing problems, had partial addiction to it and the kid who had a stroke on it made me decide to quit" – karlmbagna
"I would work out and run during the time I vaped and now that I've been Juul free for almost three weeks I can run faster and farther with ease. Seeing that progress for me is enough to stop because you realize how bad it is for your lungs" – justinclutter09
"I don't feel like a crackhead, I'm exercising more, sleeping better and my chest pains are gone! I still have the shortness of breath a little but it's improving. Even if it doesn't seem like it right now, you can do it too!" – kellyekennedy1738
"I put it somewhere that's just a pain in the ass to get to. Like I put it in a drawer in my attic and I don't go up there much." – Thevolleyball56
"Go to a sauna or steam room. It helps sweat out the nicotine. Also try exercising and drinking tea. Those all help for me. Maybe switch to 0% nicotine juice?" – chrisking6100
"Nicotine cravings usually last from 5-15 minutes. Just toss the thing, if you feel like you have to just distract yourself with something. Go on a run, workout, play with a dog, do errands, take a shower, etc. After 3 or 4 days you should be good." – brooksbaker
Image Courtesy: Buzzfeed
Overall, it's in your best interest to quit, whether it's due to finances, physical, or mental health. If none of this works out for you, and you truly want to stop Juuling, seeking professional help is a lot easier than one thinks. Simply googling, "addiction counseling" can bring you one step closer to quitting. If you're feeling apprehensive, nervous, or embarrassed, there is also the Lung HelpLine and Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-586-4872. There is nothing to be ashamed about getting help and it's better to at least try than to not at all.
Strike Out,
Writer: Joey Flanagan
Editor: Gillian McKendree and Savannah Tindall
Tallahassee