Nicotine pouches: Why they aren’t a safer alternative

You’re exposed to many bad habits daily: unhealthy food, alcohol, cigarettes and now nicotine pouches. The tobacco-less product has been around for years but has only recently spiked in popularity. And, although it’s marketed as a smoking alternative, it still negatively impacts your health.

What is nicotine?

Nicotine is a stimulant found in tobacco that increases dopamine levels. Dopamine gives you feelings of pleasure, which then increases your motivation to get more of the hormone. This creates the addictive cycle tied to nicotine and tobacco products.

“Nicotine is probably the most addictive substance that we know of,” says Dr. Milind Mehta, an addiction medicine physician at Aurora Health Care. “Quitting smoking, vaping or pouch use is not just hard but expected to be hard, and it might take a few tries. In addition to nicotine being a source of pleasure, it also acts as a major short-term stress reliever. Dopamine reduces your anxiety and lifts your mood, which is why many people keep smoking for years despite it no longer providing pleasure.”

Why are nicotine pouches popular?

People often gravitate toward nicotine pouches due to their low profile. Instead of smoking or spitting the tobacco, you put the pouch under your top or bottom lip. The powder in the pouch dissolves in your mouth and the nicotine is absorbed into your gums.

People also turn to nicotine pouches for the better taste. Many brands offer a variety of flavors, which especially appeals to younger consumers.

“This is eerily similar to what we saw with vaping,” Dr. Mehta says. “Younger generations were gravitating toward vape pens due to their flavoring and the suggestion of the product being a safer option. However, we’ve seen the devastating damage vaping can have on your lungs, and more regulations have since been established. We may see the same thing happen again, but this time with the impact nicotine pouches have on your oral health.”

Are nicotine pouches bad for your health?

Nicotine in any form is dangerous due to its addictive nature. Nicotine pouches in particular pack a punch. Your body absorbs more nicotine within 30 minutes of consuming a 6 mg nicotine pouch than smoking just one cigarette, according to the American Cancer Society.

More research is needed on nicotine pouches and their impact on your health. However, those who use pouches may have an increased risk of oral cancer and other oral health concerns.

“There aren’t many research studies that focus on whether pouches directly cause oral cancer, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s the outcome we soon learn,” Dr. Mehta cautions. “We have seen how the frequent use of other smokeless tobacco products, like chewing tobacco, can lead to head and neck cancers. So, it’s best to avoid nicotine and tobacco entirely.”

What are signs you’re addicted to nicotine?

If you’ve already formed the habit of using nicotine pouches, it’s likely you’re addicted. This means your body craves the dopamine hit and experiences withdrawal without nicotine.

Symptoms of nicotine withdrawal include:

• Weight gain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feeling irritated
• Restlessness
• Trouble focusing

How to treat nicotine addiction

“One of the main reasons health care providers don’t recommend nicotine pouches to treat an addiction is because there is no planned off ramp,” Dr. Mehta explains. “Unlike nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), which involves using nicotine patches, gums, lozenges and sprays, the pouches don’t have a stop by date.”

He says many times people just shift from smoking cigarettes to using pouches or vaping e-cigarettes and never stop.

“The goal of NRT is to provide a safe and temporary alternative in the form of nicotine to help patients stop smoking,” Dr. Mehta says. “The typical duration of NRT treatment is three months.”

If NRT hasn’t helped you quit smoking within that time frame, your health care provider can help suggest other approaches.

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