LONDON: Researchers in London have found a significant increase in nicotine pouch use among young people, revealing a growing trend as these products gain popularity as a perceived safer alternative to smoking.
Researchers at University College London found that in the brand ZYN, one in every 25 individuals uses a nicotine pouch.
In 2022, just 0.7% of young adults aged 16–24 reported using these pouches. The study also estimated that approximately 500,000 people currently use these products, a tenfold increase compared to 2020.
Nicotine pouches, placed between the lips and gums, release psychoactive nicotine that enters the bloodstream through fine capillaries over 20 to 60 minutes.
Experts, who are now calling for restrictions on the sale of these pouches, stated that their popularity stems from the desire for a nicotine “high” perceived as safer than the harms associated with cigarettes and tobacco.
