An Epidemic in Schools
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes are unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine – which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development. And research shows, young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
So… It seems like a pretty simple, fact-based case that e-cigarettes should not be marketed to kids.
However, many states and countless other legal jurisdictions have found it necessary to join a class action lawsuit against Juul Labs, Inc., a top manufacturer of electronic cigarette devices (vapes) that “have found their way into classrooms across the country.” Some describe the trends “an epidemic in our schools.”
The suit alleges that Juul intentionally targeted teens as customers by offering fruity flavors and hiring celebrities and social media influencers to vouch for the products while downplaying the well-known health risk of vapes.
Although Juul Labs long insisted it never marketed its products to teenagers, it purchased ad space in its early days on numerous youth-focused websites, according to recent lawsuits. Doesn’t seem like they are being fully transparent to me…
Too little too late
In recent statements, Juul representatives have said it is working to combat underage use of its products by shutting down the company’s social media sites and ramping up efforts to make sure retailers comply with age limits for sale of the products.
But, remember… Ethical leadership is NOT creating a problem and then offering to help fix the problem. Ethical leadership is anticipating potential consequences of actions and avoiding the issues in the first place. Ethical leadership is proactive. And…
Ethical leadership is not creating a public health crisis in the first place.
Need Ethics CPE? Book your virtual 1-hour, 2-hour, or 4-hour Ethics training with Jo today! Email Jo@AuditConsultingEducation.com.
Amanda “Jo” Erven, CPA, CIA, CFE, is the President and Founder of Audit. Consulting. Education. LLC. After a successful career in external/internal audit and accounting, Jo is now an active Internal Audit Strategist, Management Consultant, Higher Education Professor, Author, and Trainer/Speaker, providing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours, live and virtually, to organizations across the globe. Jo’s motto says the most about her personal and professional outlook: “Good things come to those who wait… but don’t. You deserve better than good.” Every one of her books and presentations focuses on that proactive stance, and how we can immediately connect our actions to our values.
