New York state will receive $112 million in a settlement with e-cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc., stemming from the company’s role in the youth vaping epidemic. The settlement funds will be used for evidence-based measures to combat underage vaping and addiction.
The money will be distributed to counties and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) across the state. These entities must dedicate the settlement funds to programs in five categories:
- Public education campaigns: These campaigns will aim to raise awareness about the risks of vaping, especially among youth.
- Anti-vaping programs: These programs will focus on preventing youth from starting to vape and reducing vaping rates among young people.
- Vaping cessation services: These services will help individuals who are struggling to quit vaping.
- Enforcement and monitoring: Funds will be used to enhance enforcement efforts against illegal sales of tobacco products to minors and to monitor the vaping industry.
- Research and evaluation: This funding will support research to understand the long-term health effects of vaping and to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and cessation programs.
The settlement comes after years of legal battles and investigations into Juul’s marketing practices, which were alleged to have targeted young people. The company has denied any wrongdoing.
