The tobacco industry has a new way to target and influence young people to use their products, in the form of oral nicotine pouches with one of the most popular brands being used called Zyn. Because these pouches do not contain any actual tobacco leaf, the FDA does not classify or regulate them as smokeless tobacco products. However, products like Zyn do contain concentrated nicotine powder—either synthetic or derived from tobacco—and the act of using them is not only furthering rates of nicotine addiction in young people but can also pose risks to their dental and oral hygiene.
Oral nicotine products were first developed in the early 2000s, but the rise of e-cigarettes and vapes overshadowed their consumption. Now, the use of nicotine pouches such as Zyn (commonly known as “Zynning”) are gaining popularity among young people due to their affordability, menthol flavoring, and the appeal of a more discreet way to get nicotine. The pouches are placed in the person’s mouth in between the lips and the gums, which then dissolve over a period of about 30-60 minutes and deliver the nicotine via mucous membranes that lead to the bloodstream. The sales of oral nicotine products skyrocketed from $126.06 million in 2019 to $808.14 million in 2022 [1]. At the same time, the products that contained a higher dosage of nicotine, usually at 8mg, sold at a more rapid rate than those with lower dosages.
Although the companies producing oral nicotine products claim that their marketing efforts are not aimed at those under the age of 21, the trends that were seen with e-cigarettes such as JUUL show that young people will get their hands on these products anyways. In the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 310,000 middle and high school students reported having used oral nicotine products within the last 30 days [2]. These rates still do not compare to the usage of tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, but with federal regulations becoming tighter around e-cigarettes, there is an opportunity for young people to turn to oral nicotine products instead.
There have not yet been many studies completed specifically about the prevalence and long-term effects of oral nicotine pouches such as Zyn, but the education and concern around young people developing a nicotine addiction remains the same. In adolescents, having a nicotine addiction can severely inhibit crucial brain development, and have lasting effects on memory, attention span, and learning ability [3]. It can also be a precursor to becoming addicted to other substances later on in life without proper education and guidance on how dangerous these products can be. Young people may see their peers, older siblings, or even parents using oral nicotine pouches and become curious about it, or even think it’s some type of gum or candy.
In order to help prevent more young people from seeking out products such as oral nicotine pouches, parents and teachers can start having conversations with their children or students about these dangers. Susceptibility to products like Zyn is highly increased due to the rapid flow of marketing tactics online aimed at young people and through social media. The more education and knowledge that young people have surrounding oral nicotine products, the better equipped they are to make informed decisions about their health and not be easily swayed by trending products.
Written By: Grace Thompson – Candor Health Education Intern
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