Indianapolis Public Schools has joined a lawsuit that alleges e-cigarette giant Juul of marketing vaping pods to youth which eventually resulted in vaping epidemic in the state of Indiana.
Ten other schools from Indiana have signed on the lawsuit apart from Indiana Public Schools. The lawsuit alleges that Juul Labs Inc. used illicit marketing strategies to increase the sale of their vaping products among the youths studying in these schools. 31,000 students study in Indiana Public Schools.
The complaint even highlights the advertising methods that the company uses to target youth and fuel nicotine addiction among them. The lawsuit even alleges that JuuL hired young models and used bright fun themes to deceive the youth. The company also marketed kid-friendly flavors of vaping pods such as crème brulee, mint and mango.
In 2019, Juul discontinued its non-menthol-based flavors. The lawsuit will go for trial in the California court where the company has its base. The percentage of high school students who used nicotine has multiplied between 2017 and 2018.
More than 5 million middle and high school students, including 25% of high school students, reported using e-cigarettes by 2019.
As per the 2018 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey, vaping pods are so popular and addictive that more than one-third of Indiana high school students have used a Juul product.
