Chantel Williams exhales a puff of vapor from a Juul pen in Vancouver, Washington on April 16, 2019. (Craig Mitchelldyer | Associated Press)

Chantel Williams exhales a puff of vapor from a Juul pen in Vancouver, Washington on April 16, 2019. (Craig Mitchelldyer | Associated Press)

Opinion: Stop advertising e-cigarettes

Product is responsible for ‘dangerous epidemic.’

Thank you for keeping print media alive in Juneau. Reading the morning paper is a ritual that I look forward to and learn from. I savor the news and crossword puzzle with my coffee six days a week, and I would be devastated to discontinue my subscription.

However, lately I see that you are resorting to full-page ads from Juul, and I am beyond disgusted to see these ads replace the frightening pages that lambasted second-hand smoke.

[Opinion: If you know youth who vape, help them understand the risks]

It is pathetic that you feel it necessary to advertise a product that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently deemed a “dangerous epidemic” among teens, and though I have no doubt that the Empire’s compensation from Juul is enticing and apparently irresistible, I must implore you to find an alternative.

[Opinion: Just say no to onsite marijuana consumption]

Every day we see articles about epidemics of all types, including drugs and suicide that are scourges on our community. How do we fix the problem? Where can people find help? How can the community do their part? But on the same pages, we see an advertisement for an addictive device.

The Empire has a right to advertise as it sees fit, but please have a conscience and do not advertise Juul or other electronic nicotine delivery systems just because they are legal and profitable. Your community and I thank you.

Cynthia Horwitz,

Juneau


• My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire.