Recently, you might have noticed little colorful canisters in the media and gas stations. At first inspection, one might assume this canister contains gum. It is actually a new addictive nicotine product.
Oral Nicotine Pouches are the newest fad in the nicotine world, with colorful canisters that open to reveal small, pillowy pouches similar in size to silica packets found in packages. Commonly referred to as “lip pillows” or “upper decky,” these pouches are placed in the gum for easier intake of nicotine compared to smoking, spitting, or inhaling. Due to this placement in the inner lining of the cheeks, the absorption rate is similar to that of smokeless tobacco products like dip, chew, or snus (Truth Initiative).
A misconception about these pouches and its competitors lies within the makeup of the substance. Because it uses nicotine powder instead of tobacco leaf, the Food and Drug Administration does not classify oral nicotine pouches as a smokeless tobacco product, but rather more of a synthetic source (FDA). Another misconception is that they are a means of tobacco cessation.
Some of the most notable users of the substance have ties to Major League Baseball, which have been using forms of tobacco for decades:
“I used Zyns to get off [dip].” Orioles DL Hall told FOX Sports. “They’re still definitely addictive because they have nicotine, but they don’t have the same harmful chemicals that tobacco has.”
Unlike nicotine replacement lozenges, gum, and nasal sprays, nicotine pouches have not been approved by the FDA for tobacco cessation.
As the tins can come with 2mg to 6mg of nicotine a pouch, many users can up their intake to dangerous levels each day. This number can increase with various flavors, as different pouch brands come in a variety of flavors such as cool mint and coffee.
Side effects of this product consist of- and are not limited to:
Adverse effects consisting of:
Remember that no tobacco product is safe.
All nicotine containing products are only available to adults. To buy these products, one must be 21 years or older.
While ZYN is the most popular currently, other similar competitors have made their way into gas stations – such as Velo, Rogue, Zone, On!, nicotine pouches have made the ability to quit more difficult. If you are looking for cessation resources, COCA has multiple- as well as Tobacco Cessation classes offered year-round with in-person and online formats: Free Tobacco Cessation Classes – Council on Chemical Abuse | Your Bridge to Addiction Resources (cocaberks.org)
The fate of nicotine pouches is still uncertain, as they are still fairly new. Above all, it is a substance we should keep an eye on in the long-term to see the effects it can cause.
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