SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — On Tuesday, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced that areas across Central New York are receiving $4.7 million as part of a multi-state settlement with JUUL.
The funding will be split across the Syracuse City School District and Boards Of Cooperative Educational Services for education and prevention programs.
According to WAER, James said that JUUL has caused a vaping epidemic in schools, as the company targeted young children.
“A pod of JUUL contains more nicotine than an entire pack of cigarettes. JUUL targeted young people with its ads all while downplaying all of the harms associated with its product,” said James.
In 2020, one in four New York students reported vaping , but the rate has dropped sparingly since then, according to the New York state attorney general.
“JUUL took a page out of big tobacco’s playbook, and that’s why JUUL has to pay for all of it’s harms that it caused to young people. It ignited a nationwide public health crisis,” said James.
The settlement money will also go towards public education campaigns and research to better prevent e-cigarette use for young adults.
