In the US, Juul has been singled out as the main culprit for the alleged teen vaping “epidemic” by several entities. In the documentary, “Vaporized: America’s E-cigarette Addiction,” which premiers next Monday, Juul’s CEO Kevin Burns is asked what he would say to a parent whose child is addicted to Juul.
The CEO, who joined Juul in late 2017,said that he would say he’s sorry and that the company has never targeted teens. “First of all, I’d tell them that I’m sorry that their child’s using the product,” said Burns. “It’s not intended for them. I hope there was nothing that we did that made it appealing to them. As a parent of a 16-year-old, I’m sorry for them, and I have empathy for them, in terms of what the challenges they’re going through.”
The negative impact of the Juul/Altria deal
Juul was launched in 2015, and its rapid expansion led to it becoming the main player in the industry, owning 40% of the market. Subsequently last December, big tobacco company Altria, purchased 35% of the e-cig manufacturer. This led to it being valued at $38 billion, and losing whatever credibility it had left.
“First of all, I’d tell them that I’m sorry that their child’s using the product. It’s not intended for them. I hope there was nothing that we did that made it appealing to them. As a parent of a 16-year-old, I’m sorry for them, and I have empathy for them, in terms of what the challenges they’re going through.”
Since then, Juul Labs has been striving to improve its image and reputation. After being accused of paying social media influencers to entice the younger generation into using their device, the company has minimised its social media presence.
Last March, Juul hired former Cardinal Health executive Douglas Roberts in order to lead its new “enterprise markets team,” which includes 17 employees, and is focused on striking deals with health plans, providers, self-insured employers and the public sector.
“It’s pretty consistent what we’re hearing, which is what’s out there today is not working, and people are really looking to get their arms around how do they provide alternatives to large groups and large masses of people who really haven’t had effective alternatives,” said Roberts at the time.
Pledging $7.5 Million to Research the Impact of E-Cigs on Teens
Additionally, the San Francisco-based manufacturer is funding a study which will be looking into the teen vaping issue. The $7.5 million grant awarded by Juul, is structured in ways meant to ensure the “full autonomy” of the new Meharry Center for the Study of Social Determinants of Health, including “sole ownership of the sponsored research and complete control over publication of the findings.”
A statement from President and CEO of Meharry College, Dr. James Hildreth, explained the importance of researching “the rising prevalence of e-cigarettes, including how they affect young people.”
“The grant from Juul Labs gives Meharry the unique opportunity to take the lead on a new line of fully independent research in this critical area of public health,” said Hildreth. “Smoking has had disproportionately negative effects on minority, and particularly African-American, populations for decades. At Meharry, we have been on the front lines of treating those impacted by this scourge and see firsthand how smoking can destroy lives. Our goal is to help set a new course for education, prevention and policy surrounding the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes.”
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