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JUULing: The dangerous trend that could affect teenagers' health

JUUL is supposed to offer an alternative for adult smokers, but the e-cigarette, which passes as a flash drive, is finding its way into the hands of teenagers more than some parents may realize.
Credit: Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
PORTLAND, Maine - Ryan Purington, an employee at Lucky Juju, holds a JUUL vape in his hand. The store started stocking the vapes last month and Purington said that they are 'flying off' the shelves because they are discreet, easy to use and powerful.

NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) – A new device is being labeled "the iPhone of e-cigarettes." Your teenager could have one and you may not even realize it.

JUUL is very small device that has a sleek design and is sold at local convenience stores and online. Its appearance is enough to fool anyone.

Maury High School senior Nyja Pass said, "It just looks like a little flash drive and has a little flap or what not."

Many parents and teachers said the e-cigarette plugs into a computer to charge, making it truly look like a flash drive.

"Any and everybody is doing it. They just feel like, hey if they are doing it, I’m going to do it too," said Pass.

Students admit their peers use JUUL everywhere, from the school bus to the classroom.

"Kids do it because it looks fun or it makes them look grown or older," student Andre Brooks explained.

Join us for 13News Now at 11 p.m. on Monday, May 7 to find out more about the trend and what a local medical expert says is being done to keep JUUL from getting into the hands of teenagers.

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