Luka Kinard, a 16 year old High Point, NC teen became addicted to vaping Juul nicotine pods his freshman year of high school. In this candid interview, Luka shares how his addiction led him to: using up to four Juul pods a day, selling his clothes and mother's jewelry, having a grand mal seizure, frequent chest pains, constant anxiety and eventually to an inpatient treatment center for his nicotine addiction.

Luka is now in recovery from his tobacco use and travels around the country with his mom sharing his story with teachers, parents, middle school and high school students. Recently he spoke at nine events throughout the Rock Hill, Clover, York and Fort Mill school districts. Luka is honest about the negatives effects his vaping use had on his relationship with his parents, grades and his health.

As Luka travels to schools he includes in his message to students that they are not alone, that asking for help and being vulnerable are signs of strength and not weakness and how his life has turned around for the better since he stopped using and embraced healthy alternatives to tobacco or drug use.

Luka mentions the program Truth Initiative and the Ditch Juul texting service as resources for teens who want to quit using tobacco products like Juul, vapes, or e-cigarettes.