Nicotine pouches resemble small tea bags and are placed in the mouth between the lips and gums. They contain nicotine, plant fibres in place of tobacco and fillers such as glycerol, noncaloric sweeteners and flavours. They are typically sold in small tins with 15 to 20 pouches. These products are marketed as smokeless alternatives to traditional cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snus. Popular brands include Zyn, On! and Velo.

While these pouches don’t contain tobacco, they still contain nicotine and can cause addiction. Like other nicotine-containing products, they can also increase a person’s risk of cancers, lung problems and heart disease. They can also cause mouth and gum problems, including dryness, discolouration, gum recession, and tooth decay.

In addition, nicotine pouches can make a person more susceptible to allergic reactions. They can also lead to gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea and stomach pains.

The emergence of the nicotine pouch heysnus.com/hu/collections/nicotine-pouches is one of many ways that the tobacco industry is seeking to replace falling cigarette sales. Philip Morris’s new product, called Zyn, is a tobacco-free alternative that is meant for adult smokers. However, it is currently available to teens and young adults due to weak regulations on non-tobacco nicotine products.

Research is needed to understand the use, misuse and harms of these products, including how they might be a gateway to other tobacco products such as cigarettes, snus and cigars. It is also important to know how the marketing and sale of these products affects individuals’ and population level attempts to quit risky tobacco and nicotine products. It is likely that these new products will have a transition period of time where they are used in combination with other tobacco and nicotine products and then fully replaced. This transition needs to be understood, confirmed in large-scale studies and communicated.

There are also concerns that these products might be a gateway to other risky behaviors such as drug and alcohol use, binge-drinking and other forms of substance abuse. In addition, research is needed to understand the health effects of these products on the user’s mouth and body and how they compare with other nicotine-containing and non-nicotine-containing products such as e-cigarettes.

Despite their popularity, these products are not well-studied. Until more information is available, clinicians should continue to discourage nicotine pouch use in youth and young adults. This includes avoiding the promotion of these products to young people by social media influencers, who often endorse them. It is also essential to continue educating parents and teachers about the dangers of nicotine-containing and tobacco products in general, and the unique risks that nicotine pouches pose for young people. This should be based on the latest scientific evidence and include the harms of both traditional smoking and vaping products. In addition, health care professionals should be familiar with current FDA and CDC guidelines on the use of nicotine-containing and tobacco products. This should include the health risks associated with nicotine and other chemicals in combustible tobacco products, such as cancers, cardiovascular disease, lung problems and oral diseases, among others.