Teen Luka Kinard Shares His Experience with Juul Addiction

News Contributor: Kylie Pemberton 

BH WELL recently recorded a conversation between Luka Kinard, a 17-year-old from High Point, NC who is recovering from a vaping addiction, and his mom. When Luka was 14 years old, he started using Juul. Within a short time, he went from a straight-A, easy-going student to flunking out of school and developing a serious aggression problem. At his highest use, he was inhaling the nicotine equivalent of 80 cigarettes per day. Two months into his JUUL use, Luka experienced cold sweats, persistent chest pain, and a grand mal seizure. After no luck with counselors at curbing his addiction, Luka’s parents sent him to a rehabilitation facility in California. The program required Luka to quit vaping immediately upon arrival. After 38 days in the intensive rehabilitation hospital, Luka came home nicotine-free. Luka says it has been a long journey since leaving rehabilitation. However, he is grateful to feel like himself again. 

In this video, Luka Kinard and his mother, Kelly Kinard, discuss how Luka’s addiction began, some misconceptions of Juul use, and strategies Luka has used to stay nicotine-free.