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Hongying DD, Leventhal AM. Prevalence of Nicotine Pouch Use Among US Adults. JAMA. 10 July 2024;332(9):755-757. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.10686 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2820917

“Oral nicotine pouches are single-use microfiber sachets prefilled with microcrystalline powder, nicotine, and other constituents. Sales of nicotine pouches increased in the US from 126.06 to 808.14 million units (641%) between 2019 and 2022.1 The US Food and Drug Administration regulates nicotine pouches as commercial tobacco products and is reviewing pouch marketing applications. Adult US nicotine pouch use prevalence and the characteristics of the individuals using pouches were estimated to inform regulators and clinicians about these products.

Pouch use may be associated with the adverse effects of nicotine dependence, mouth lesions, and nausea,4 but pouch use does avoid respiratory exposure and some of the tobacco toxins present in cigarettes.5 Given prior evidence that pouches did not substantially relieve cigarette cravings for those reporting smoking daily,6 alongside the current study’s findings, whether pouches encourage switching from cigarettes warrants future empirical inquiry.”

Comment: Pouches are another smokeless product being marketed as a commercial tobacco product, but they are an open door to continued nicotine addiction. See also: Zyn and other nicotine pouch products; Promotion to youth, 7 June 2024

https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/what-zyn-and-what-are-oral-nicotine-pouches

Stephen Hamann