The Rise of Oral Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine pouches, lip pillows, upper deckers, or Zyn®—you may have heard some or all of these terms, along with mixed messages about them. What’s a fact and what’s not? Let’s take a pop quiz to find out.

Fact or myth?    

• Using pouches is safe because they do not contain tobacco. 
• Synthetic nicotine is safer to use than nicotine extracted from tobacco. 
• The FDA has not approved the sale of any brand of oral nicotine pouch as safe or effective for quitting smoking. 

Before we reveal the answers, let’s review some background on oral nicotine pouches.  

First, what is an oral nicotine pouch?  

Oral nicotine pouches are mesh sachets or pouches that contain synthetic nicotine powder. They are placed beneath the lips or between the cheeks and gums, and the nicotine powder is absorbed through the mouth’s moist surfaces into the bloodstream.  

How common is the use of nicotine pouches?  

Today, students who use tobacco products say oral nicotine pouches are their first choice after vaping devices. About 480,000 students use these addictive and toxic products. Among adolescents who use nicotine pouches, more than 20% use them daily. More than 25% have used them on at least 20 of the last 30 days.  

What is the appeal of oral nicotine pouches?  

Several factors make oral nicotine pouches attractive to adolescents. The products can be easily concealed and used without other people noticing. Their high nicotine content and appealing flavors attract young people—and more than 80% of teens who use oral nicotine pouches use flavored pouches.  

What’s the risk?  

Nicotine is toxic and addictive, whether it is synthetic or extracted from tobacco. Some nicotine pouches sold today contain much more nicotine than the first pouches on the market, and often more than other tobacco products like vaping devices or cigarettes. Nicotine has many potentially harmful effects, including:  

• Mental Effects—from addiction and dependence to difficulty learning 
• Social Effects—including broken trust and withdrawal from relationships  
• Legal Effects—such as fines and community service or disciplinary action 
• Health Effects—including cardiovascular disease, harm to developing brains, and higher risk for other addictions.  

A person who uses 10 pouches per day will consume as much nicotine as smoking 1 ½ packs of cigarettes. Children, young adolescents, and small adults can also be susceptible to nicotine poising in rare cases, which includes vomiting, increased salivation, abdominal pain, and sweating. 

So, how did you do on the pop quiz?   

• Using pouches is safe because they do not contain tobacco. Myth. The fact is that nicotine is addictive and toxic, even in the absence of tobacco. 
• Synthetic nicotine is safer to use than nicotine extracted from tobacco. Myth. The fact is that synthetic nicotine is the same chemical as nicotine extracted from tobacco. Synthetic nicotine has the same effects on the body. 
• The FDA has not approved the sale of any brand of oral nicotine pouch as safe or effective for quitting smoking. Fact. Oral nicotine pouches have not been approved by the FDA as safe or effective for quitting smoking. 

How can we educate students on the facts about oral nicotine pouches?
Teaching students about oral nicotine pouches is key. G-W has a new lesson about oral nicotine pouches, part of our regular lesson updates on current health topics. This lesson, complete with learning outcomes, key terms, an engaging infographic, a skills-based worksheet, and an answer key, dives much further into this topic.

G-W Health subscribers can access the lesson in the Online Instructor Resources. If you’re not a subscriber of G-W Health yet, register for a Free Preview to sample our materials for Middle School and High School. Your G-W Educational Consultant is happy to answer any questions you may have. 

Let’s work together to build healthy lives!  

The source of this blog content is the Lesson to Introduce Oral Nicotine Pouches, from G-W Publisher.
Photo Credits:
Thumbnail: Natalia Bohren/Shutterstock.com
Infographic: G-W Publisher