Giving Compass' Take:

· Education Dive touches on the rising concerns associated with teen vaping and explains that these health dangers have sparked numerous lawsuits against vaping companies. Educators need more information about these devices in order to educate youths on their risks.

· With more research needed on this topic, how can donors support efforts to learn more about vaping? 

· Learn what parents need to know about vaping.

According to recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 38% of high school students and 13% of middle school children have already tried vaping. As the use of Juul products and e-cigarettes increases, so do the dangers posed to children, teens, and young adults. Though not all vaping involves nicotine, those who use nicotine products face an increased risk of nicotine addiction, despite the fact these products are usually billed as “safer” alternatives.

Some vaping involves the use of marijuana instead. And even products that feature more “innocent” ingredients contain toxic chemicals which are inhaled into young lungs and can cause severe lung damage in some users.

While Lake County is the first county to sue Juul for its part in the rise of vaping among teens, it is not the only entity to do so. North Carolina’s attorney general filed suit against the company earlier this year for its “unfair and deceptive” marketing practices, which have caused an “epidemic” among young users.

Susan Kansagra, a doctor with the North Carolina Department of Public Health, said in another Chicago Tribune article that over a six-year period, there has been a 900% increase in high school students and a 400% increase in middle school students reporting they are using e-cigarettes. "In 2017, about 17% of high schoolers reported using e-cigarettes, and that I'm confident is an underestimate, given the marketing that we've seen," she said.

Read the full article about lawsuits against Juul by Amelia Harper at Education Dive.