There’s a new nicotine trend taking hold among teens, and it’s not vaping. Usage of this product amongst high schoolers nearly doubled between 2023 and 2024, fueled by the aggressive marketing and the promise of being “tobacco-free.”
Unfortunately, these small, flavored pouches are packed with potent doses of nicotine that make them highly addictive and especially harmful to teens who are intrigued by the discreet packaging, affordable price ($4-6 per pack), and accessibility.
Many teens believe these products are safer than smoking or vaping, but the truth is nicotine pouches pose serious risks to youth health like addiction, brain development issues, and other long-term impacts.
What are Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine pouches are compact, white packets that contain nicotine, flavorings, and other ingredients, but no tobacco. The pouch is tucked between a person’s lip or cheek where the nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mucus membranes in the mouth.
The pouches can be left in the mouth for 15 to 60 minutes, but there are no directions that explicitly share the instructions (seriously – try and find more specific directions for use. We’ll wait.) Because nicotine pouches do not produce smoke or vapor, they’re harder for parents to detect.
The nicotine in these products are either synthetic or derived from tobacco and can come in a variety of flavors. Typically, the nicotine pouches are sold in tins of 15 to 20 pouches and can be sold in a variety of nicotine strengths.
For example, the popular brand Zyn offers both 3 mg and 6 mg of nicotine per pouch. Other brands like Velo, Rogue, or On! can range from 2-30 mg per pouch!
The nicotine ingested from one 6 mg Zyn would be the equivalent to smoking 2-3 cigarettes, and users are not aware of the full nicotine amount in each pouch, which means some are using multiple pouches a day!
Here’s Why Nicotine Pouches Are Harmful to Youth
Nicotine pouches may seem like a safer alternative to smoking or vaping for teens who aren’t familiar with the health risks, but these pouches still deliver high doses of nicotine – a highly addictive and harmful substance, especially for teens with growing brains.
Despite lacking tobacco, these products contain synthetic or purified nicotine that can disrupt brain development, harm learning and memory, and increase vulnerability to addiction, especially if there’s a family history of addiction.
In fact, nicotine itself can damage the heart, increase heart rate and blood pressure, and harden arteries over time. Mental health isn’t spared either – mental health issues like anxiety, irritability, and mood swings can be increased by nicotine use.
Signs Your Teen Might Be Using Nicotine Pouches
Nicotine pouch use can be subtle, but there are warning signs:
- Look for mood changes like irritability, anxiety, or restlessness, which may signal nicotine withdrawal
- Physical symptoms like frequent headaches, nausea, or dizziness without a clear cause can also be a clue
- Finding small round tins, white gum-like pouches, or noticing fruity or minty smells may indicate use
- Gum or mouth irritation is another possible sign
How to Talk to Your Teen About Nicotine Pouches
- Get Prepared: You’ll want to share the physical and mental health risks of using nicotine with your child to support your stance. Here’s a quick recap of all we’ve discussed so far:
- Nicotine is not safe for youth. Using nicotine during adolescence can:
- Greatly increase the risk of addiction to nicotine, especially if there is a family history of addiction
- Harm brain development, which continues until about age 25!
- Negatively impact learning, memory, and attention now and into adulthood
- Nicotine can increase mood swings, anxiety, and irritability
- Set Expectations: You’ll want to explain your family rules about nicotine use to your child, including consequences, with consistency and care. Make sure you’re clear on these expectations and consequences yourself before talking to your child, so you can clearly explain them during your conversations. Find help with setting expectations here. 😉
- Lead with Curiosity, Not Confrontation: Remember, the goal is to build and grow a relationship with your teen that is honest, trusting, and open – which is an important protective factor to safeguard them from nicotine and other substance use!
- Start your conversations calmly; practice refraining from judgement or anger
- It’s more important – and effective– to listen and discuss rather than to lecture
- Take a strong stance against teen nicotine use, expressing care and concern
- Be curious and open-minded about kids’ experiences: ask them what they think, know, or have heard about nicotine pouches (like Zyn) or if anyone at school uses them
- Emphasize the health and independence of a no-nicotine lifestyle, which appeals to their sense of autonomy and long-term goals
- Give your child the opportunity to ask you questions – even if you don’t know the answer, you can look into it together!
- Keep the dialogue open and let them know they can come to you with more questions or for help
- Talk Often!: Have regular conversations about your nicotine-free expectations, including cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine products like pouches, lozenges, and gum.
- These conversations are more likely to be successful when they take place more casually like while driving in the car, taking a walk, or washing dishes after dinner
- Taking advantage of these smaller moments and potential in-roads will help the conversation seem less threatening and more natural
- Use the environment to spur conversation, like when you see an advertisement for nicotine pouches or other products, or watching a movie with your teen that shows nicotine use
What Else Can Parents Do?
- Let your child know you will help them if they’re using nicotine to seek relief from anxiety, stress, etc. Assure your child that their mental well-being is a priority and that they have options for relief other than taking matters into their own hands. Discuss the steps to legally and safely obtain appropriate medications from a doctor, if needed.
- Prepare kids for peer pressure. It might sound cheesy, but these roleplays let your child know you support them and they do help give them confidence if a situation arises where they need to say “no.” You can also work with your teen to come up with a code word to text you if they feel like they need your help to get out of an unsafe situation.
- Find support from your child’s dentist, coaches, doctor, youth leaders, and teachers.Ask them if they can help support your nicotine-free expectations in their interactions with your child. Make the ask even easier by bringing a handout like this to refer to and leave with them. Building a village of support is so important to prevention, and can be especially crucial if you suspect your child may be using nicotine.
- Support teens who want to quit nicotine without stigma or shame. If a teen you know wants to quit, they can get free, confidential support from a My Life My Quit coach at MO.MyLifeMyQuit.org. They can also text ‘Start My Quit’ to 36072. This local cessation resource sends them tips to help them quit nicotine for good.
The bottom line: No matter the device or method, nicotine is harmful for kids. Stay informed. Stay connected. Keep the conversation going. You’ve got this!
