Tobacco Control Program: The Rising Popularity of Nicotine Pouches
With cigarette smoking and vaping on the decline as the result of successful public health efforts, the tobacco industry has developed new ways attract customers and sell products. Though smokeless tobacco products have been on the market for years, new “smokeless and spitless” nicotine pouches are beginning to take hold through social media promotion. Zyn, which entered the market in 2014, has gained popularity among youth and young adults who presumably made the switch from vaping or smoking to using nicotine pouches. Products like On! and Crave nicotine pouches have also had an exponential increase in sales over the past few years.
Many e-cigarette users and smokers also use nicotine pouches in places they otherwise cannot legally vape or smoke (indoors, for example). Recent retail environment inspections conducted by the Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Program have revealed that these products are in such high demand that retailers find it challenging to keep them in stock.
Use in Schools: Nicotine Pouches are Odorless, Smokeless, Vaporless and Spitless, Making them Easy to Conceal
Schools are reporting an increasing and alarming rate of youth use, as nicotine pouches are the latest evolution of non-combustible products. These pouches, like snus or traditional chewing tobacco, contain nicotine powder instead of tobacco leaf, and are used by placing the product between the lip and gum. They come in several flavors and a variety of different nicotine strengths. They have been marketed as an appealing alternative to spit tobacco because there is no need to spit and the pouches do not produce odor, smoke or vapor. This makes the pouches easy to conceal and use in schools and other places where tobacco products are prohibited. The pouches also cost less than vaping products and cigarettes.
Nicotine Pouches are NOT Safer than Cigarettes
Many people perceive that the smokeless, odorless nicotine pouches are a safe alternative to cigarettes. Don’t be fooled. Nicotine pouches contain harmful chemicals (some of which cause cancer) including ammonia, chromium, formaldehyde, nickel, pH adjusters, and nicotine salt. Most concerning, the high levels of nicotine contained in these pouches is incredibly addictive and harmful to young people. The average user consumes a half a can per day, or 8 to 12 nicotine pouches. Depending on the nicotine content of the pouch consumed, the total nicotine ingested per day could easily be equivalent to smoking approximately three packs of cigarettes or 1 ½ e-cigarette pods of 2% vape. For more information check out this article by Yale Medicine.
The Cape Cod Regional Tobacco Program endeavors to work with Local Boards of Health to develop strategies designed to limit youth access to these products with the goal of preventing yet another generation from becoming addicted to nicotine. Learn more at Tobacco Control Program – Barnstable County (capecod.gov).
