History teaches a lot, and not many folks are left to take this trip down cigarette memory lane, but in the early 20th century, cigarettes were socially acceptable. It was even touted as healthy because smoking was “calming.” It was really nicotine. We learned in the 1950s that smoking tobacco caused lung cancer, and it eventually became a “filthy”, smelly habit.
Into the 2010s, the tobacco habit began to diminish, and vaping—nicotine euphoria without the dirty butts and smell, exploded in popularity. As a product, vape was marketed as “safer” than cigarettes. Fortunately, it didn’t take us half a century to learn that the chemicals in vape—acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde—cause lung disease, breathing problems, and cardiovascular issues. And here we are today with another trending nicotine product that hides the addiction. Nicotine pouches. The central, addictive, element in all these products, no matter the decade, is nicotine. And nicotine found in tobacco or by itself causes damage to every organ in the body.
At first glance, nicotine pouches are brilliantly marketed to appear safer and cleaner than other nicotine products. You hear “tobacco free” and think you’re safe. You see the small, pillow-like pouches placed between the lips and gum that absorb nicotine directly. No spitting involved. Awesome and too good to be true! You’re enticed by the branding, flavors, and nicotine strengths. Look deeper and you’ll see nicotine pouches are anything but risk-free.
“There’s no tobacco in nicotine pouches, so they’re safer.” Yes, tobacco is one of the cancer-causing ingredients in older products and nicotine pouches are tobacco-free. But tobacco-derived nicotine salt is the leading ingredient in nicotine pouches. Nicotine is a tumor promoter, making cancer more aggressive. No matter how you get it, nicotine is highly addictive and the enemy behind multiple health issues. Nicotine dependence leads to an extensive list of long-term problems including cardiovascular and lung disease, high blood pressure, fertility issues, a weakened immune system, stomach disorders, and mental health instability.
The connection between nicotine, harmful health issues, and addiction is not new. But there are other concerns specific to this nicotine product, the pouch.
The direct absorption of nicotine through the mouth’s membranes and release into the bloodstream happens slowly. This slow absorption doesn’t effectively curb your nicotine cravings but instead increases the need and desire for more. Smoking provides a nicotine spike in five minutes. Nicotine pouches take 30 minutes to an hour to reach peak effectiveness. They can be even more addictive than other nicotine products.
Nicotine pouches are alarmingly discreet. They’re clean. They’re odorless. They’re small and easily hidden. They are concealable in schools and workplaces. Nicotine pouches are especially alluring to young people and those who haven’t used nicotine in the past, making them a sure pathway to nicotine addiction.
Nicotine pouches offer varying levels or strengths. Typically, pouch strengths range from 3 mg to 15 mg but can go as high as 20 mg. To put this into perspective, cigarettes provide inconsistent nicotine content. One cigarette has 5 to10 milligrams of nicotine, with the actual amount inhaled significantly less than that. In contrast, the exact amount of nicotine in each pouch is absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
Anytime you keep a chemical agent on your gum tissue for a prolonged period, you will have issues. Short-term damaging effects of nicotine pouch usage include tooth decay, gum irritation and recession, and infection. Due to their small size, users can fit multiple pouches under their lips at one time, multiplying the amount of nicotine being absorbed into the bloodstream, and multiplying the damage to the mouth as well.
Anything but a fun fact: Studies have found low levels of harmful substances such as ammonia and formaldehyde in nicotine pouches. Another short-term effect is stomach problems.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations for non-tobacco nicotine (NTN) are not as strict as those for tobacco products, and there is not the same pressure on pouch manufacturers and marketers to be clear about nicotine its risks. In other words, you really don’t know for sure what’s in the pouch. Like vape products, there’s not enough data to know for sure how nicotine pouches will affect your future health, but the risk is significant.
For those wanting to reduce or stop nicotine usage, take this to heart. No long-term data currently suggests that nicotine pouches are helpful when looking to quit tobacco or slowly reduce nicotine intake. Nicotine pouches are not an FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), like lozenges or gum.
Nicotine is nicotine, no matter the form. Unfortunately, its evolution makes it more enticing and dangerous. The road to curb nicotine usage is not an easy one, but it can be done. Talk with your medical provider or a nicotine cessation specialist to get help and overcome a nicotine addiction safely.
Heidi Kutz
Education Specialist, ViaroHealth
For questions or comments about this blog, or for information about Breathe Free, Viaro’s nicotine reduction support program, contact wellness@viarohealth.com