Amidst recent news of lawsuits filed against Juul and associated emergent health risks, students have expressed varied opinions on the prominence of the issue at the University.

In breaking news stories, Juul has been accused of employing teenagers as “lab rats,” as the long-term ramifications of Juuling are not yet known.

Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg of Washington University Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry offers a rationale behind the popularity of Juuling amongst teens.

“The nicotine salts contained in Juul pods deliver a smoother hit than traditional cigarettes,” Cavazos-Rehg said.

It’s difficult to estimate the volume of Juul use on campus—no definite conclusion can be drawn from the testimony of a handful of sources.

Because the effects of Juuling have yet to be studied in full, some students believe that it is a good alternative for weed and other substances.

“My roommate has one. I don’t smoke, but I’m okay with people that do,” said business major Alessandro Leoni. “The problem is [that] people don’t perceive Juuls as a real threat like cigarettes or tobacco.”

Others, who don’t partake in Juuling, still find it a popular activity among students on campus.

“When I do see it, it’s pretty prominent. I see people walking around Juuling and doing it in class,” sophomore Kelechi Achilefu said.

Recent lawsuits filed against Juul and nightmare stories of death via lung disease provide substantial grounds to deem vaping a public health crisis.

Dr. Gregory Polites of Washington University School of Medicine’s Division of Emergency Medicine says he has seen several cases that verge on unconventional, but he has yet to see a student enter the emergency room with nicotine poisoning.

“I’ve had kids come in with flu-like symptoms, pulmonary symptoms and inflammation in the lungs,” Polites said. “I’ve never had kids come in because of Juuling, though.”

Research has established several health risks associated with vaping, including the inhalation of toxic chemicals , nicotine addiction  and lung disease . A Truth Initiative survey  found that only 37% of youth and young adult Juul users knew that Juuls always contained nicotine.

Despite the differing perspectives of students and faculty, Cavazos-Rehg maintains that vaping products are dangerous devices not to be trifled with.

“Take the warnings [issued by the CDC] seriously,” Cavazos-Rehg said. “Don’t even start. Don’t even put yourself near these substances.”