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The Independent
21-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Nicotine pouches: Do they work, are they safe and are they better than vaping?
If you are trying to stop smoking, you may have heard of nicotine patches or gum to help reduce cravings. But how about nicotine pouches? Small, tobacco-free sachets containing a powder made up of nicotine, flavourings and other additives, nicotine patches are placed between the upper lip and gum to release a nicotine buzz without the damage to lungs. Nicotine pouches were first introduced to the UK market in 2019. Common brands in the UK include ZYN, Velo and Nordic Spirit. Nicotine pouches are similar to snus – loose tobacco in a pouch that is used in the same way as nicotine pouches. Although snus has been used for many years in Scandinavia, it was banned in the UK in 1992. Today's generation of nicotine pouches are marketed as a way to get the benefits of nicotine without the harmful effects of cigarettes or vapes. So, are they a helpful tool for those trying to kick the habit? Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is available to buy over-the-counter in the UK. Common brands include Nicorette and Niquitin. NRT comes in different forms such as patches, lozenges and chewing gum. Nicotine pouches haven't been approved for use as NRT – so why are they becoming a popular alternative to smoking and vaping? Pouches are heavily marketed on social media and, unlike NRTs, they're readily available from supermarkets and shops from as little as £5 per box. Social media influencers are sponsored to promote nicotine pouches as 'clean', discreet and convenient. They come in a wide range of flavours, from cinnamon to citrus, which attracts younger consumers. Recent research found that approximately 1 per cent of adults and 1.2 per cent of youths aged 11-18 years old reported currently using nicotine pouches. However, over 5 per cent of adults and more than 3 per cent of youths said they had used these pouches at some point. Although these are relatively low figures, data showsnicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and US. Unlike NRT, nicotine pouches are classed as consumer products, so are not regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Since they do not contain tobacco, nicotine pouches cannot be regulated by the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations either. This means there is no age restriction to buy them. Instead, nicotine pouches are governed by the General Product Safety Regulations, which means they are not regulated as stringently as NRT. Companies producing NRTs must apply for a marketing license because medicinal products have to undergo extensive testing to show they are safe and effective. This is not the case for nicotine pouches. Nicotine acts on receptors in the brain, releasing chemical messengers including the 'happy hormone' dopamine. These chemical messengers are responsible for the pleasurable feelings and addictive behaviour that people often experience when using tobacco or nicotine products. The faster a drug is absorbed and activates brain receptors, the higher the addiction potential. Research shows that nicotine is released more slowly from pouches compared to cigarettes, so it may be less addictive than cigarettes. However,pouches can also vary in the amount of nicotine they contain – evidence shows some have very high levels, higher than cigarettes and NRT. Pouches can be marketed as a 'clean' form of nicotine consumption – but, although they are smoke-free, they can contain other chemical ingredients such as pH adjusters like sodium carbonate, which allow nicotine to be absorbed in the mouth more easily. Pouches do not contain tobacco, which contains many chemicals and cancer-causing agents. However, nicotine on its own can still be harmful. Common side effects of nicotine pouch use include nausea, vomiting, headaches and heart palpitations. Nicotine causes the body to release of chemicals such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. Studies show increased levels of these can raise heart rate and blood pressure and the heart's need for oxygen. Animal studies suggest that nicotine use during teenage years can cause long-term changes in the brain and behaviour as well as an increased likelihood of using other drugs, lower attention levels and mood problems. Young people have more nicotine receptors in the areas of the brain related to reward. This makes nicotine's effects stronger in teenagers than in adults. Currently there is not enough evidence to confirm nicotine pouches are harmful to oral health but dentists are concerned about their potential effects. Last year, a review found that oral side effects include dry mouth, sore mouth, blisters on the gums and sometimes changes in the gum area – such as receding gumline – where the pouches were placed. This is similar to side effects of oral NRT. Unlike NRT, which is normally used for a three-month course, pouches may be used for longer – potentially raising the risk of side effects. Belgium and the Netherlands have banned nicotine pouches because of the potential risks. In the UK, the new Tobacco and Vapes bill will allow the government to regulate the use of nicotine pouches so that they can only be sold to people aged 18 and older. Advertising will be banned and the content and branding regulated. This could be a welcome move for those concerned that nicotine pouch brands are targeting young people who've never smoked. But, for current smokers looking for a product to help them quit, it might be wise to opt for the regulated NRTs – even if the flavours aren't as appealing.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Why nicotine pouches may not be the best choice to help you to stop smoking
If you are trying to stop smoking, you may have heard of nicotine patches or gum to help reduce cravings. But how about nicotine pouches? Small, tobacco-free sachets containing a powder made up of nicotine, flavourings and other additives, nicotine patches are placed between the upper lip and gum to release a nicotine buzz without the damage to lungs. Nicotine pouches were first introduced to the UK market in 2019. Common brands in the UK include ZYN, Velo and Nordic Spirit. Nicotine pouches are similar to snus – loose tobacco in a pouch that is used in the same way as nicotine pouches. Although snus has been used for many years in Scandinavia, it was banned in the UK in 1992. Today's generation of nicotine pouches are marketed as a way to get the benefits of nicotine without the harmful effects of cigarettes or vapes. So, are they a helpful tool for those trying to kick the habit? Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is available to buy over-the-counter in the UK. Common brands include Nicorette and Niquitin. NRT comes in different forms such as patches, lozenges and chewing gum. Nicotine pouches haven't been approved for use as NRT – so why are they becoming a popular alternative to smoking and vaping? Pouches are heavily marketed on social media and, unlike NRTs, they're readily available from supermarkets and shops from as little as £5 per box. Social media influencers are sponsored to promote nicotine pouches as 'clean', discreet and convenient. They come in a wide range of flavours, from cinnamon to citrus, which attracts younger consumers. Recent research found that approximately 1% of adults and 1.2% of youths aged 11-18 years-old reported currently using nicotine pouches. However, over 5% of adults and more than 3% of youths said they had used these pouches at some point. Although these are relatively low figures, data shows nicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and US. Unlike NRT, nicotine pouches are classed as consumer products, so are not regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Since they do not contain tobacco, nicotine pouches cannot be regulated by the Tobacco and Related Product Regulations either. This means there is no age restriction to buy them. Instead, nicotine pouches are governed by the General Product Safety Regulations, which means they are not regulated as stringently as NRT. Companies producing NRTs must apply for a marketing license because medicinal products have to undergo extensive testing to show they are safe and effective. This is not the case for nicotine pouches. Nicotine acts on receptors in the brain, releasing chemical messengers including the 'happy hormone' dopamine. These chemical messengers are responsible for the pleasurable feelings and addictive behaviour that people often experience when using tobacco or nicotine products. The faster a drug is absorbed and activates brain receptors, the higher the addiction potential. Research shows that nicotine is released more slowly from pouches compared to cigarettes, so it may be less addictive than cigarettes. However, pouches can also vary in the amount of nicotine they contain – evidence shows some have very high levels, higher than cigarettes and NRT. Pouches can be marketed as a 'clean' form of nicotine consumption – but, although they are smoke-free, they can contain other chemical ingredients such as pH adjusters like sodium carbonate, which allow nicotine to be absorbed in the mouth more easily. Pouches do not contain tobacco, which contains many chemicals and cancer-causing agents. However, nicotine on its own can still be harmful. Common side effects of nicotine pouch use include nausea, vomiting, headaches and heart palpitations. Nicotine causes the body to release of chemicals such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. Studies show increased levels of these can raise heart rate and blood pressure and the heart's need for oxygen. Animal studies suggest that nicotine use during teenage years can cause long-term changes in the brain and behaviour as well as an increased likelihood of using other drugs, lower attention levels and mood problems. Young people have more nicotine receptors in the areas of the brain related to reward. This makes nicotine's effects stronger in teenagers than in adults. Currently there is not enough evidence to confirm nicotine pouches are harmful to oral health but dentists are concerned about their potential effects. Last year, a review found that oral side effects include dry mouth, sore mouth, blisters on the gums and sometimes changes in the gum area – such as receding gumline – where the pouches were placed. This is similar to side effects of oral NRT. Unlike NRT, which is normally used for a three-month course, pouches may be used for longer – potentially raising the risk of side effects. Belgium and the Netherlands have banned nicotine pouches because of the potential risks. In the UK, the new Tobacco and Vapes bill will allow the government to regulate the use of nicotine pouches so that they can only be sold to people aged 18 and older. Advertising will be banned and the content and branding regulated. This could be a welcome move for those concerned that nicotine pouch brands are targeting young people who've never smoked. But, for current smokers looking for a product to help them quit, it might be wise to opt for the regulated NRTs – even if the flavours aren't as appealing. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Dipa Kamdar does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Euronews
05-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
European Commission opens Shein probe and targets Chinese e-commerce giants
The European Commission on Wednesday launched a consumer protection probe into Chinese clothes retailer Shein and also published a ' toolbox ' for handling challenges posed by online shopping from Chinese websites that fail to comply with EU standards in terms of quality, environment and fair commercial practices. The toolbox claims to approach the problem from the moment the consumer visits the website to the moment of purchase, listing various regulations that already apply or which need to be enforced, improved or reviewed, but also touts new proposals – such as customs reform. The executive is calling for the adoption of the Customs Union Reform Package, proposed in May 2023, which would remove the exemption from duty for low-value parcels worth less than €150 and the create a EU Customs Authority, a decentralised agency that would gather all the member states custom authorities with the Commission. The toolbox also proposed 'product safety sweep' using AI tools along with mystery shopping, testing activities to detect and recall products from the market, permitted under General Product Safety Regulations introduced last December. The communication touts adoption of an action plan for the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and amendment of the Waste Framework Directive to 'mitigate the climate and environmental impact of the imports of low-value products directly shipped to consumers". It highlights the need to apply current Digital Services Act rules dealing with addictive designs, dark patterns and fake discounts and Digital Markets Act provisions on unfair commercial practices. It also calls for deeper cooperation between member states' agencies and the EU. The Commission will assess the effect of measures taken within a year and publish a report on the enforcement by the EU and member states. The executive launched the investigation into Chinese retailer Shein in tandem with the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, which gathers the 27 consumer protection authorities within the EU member states to investigate jointly infringements of EU consumer protection. Based on information gathered by those authorities the Commission has concluded that there is a reasonable suspicion of infringement of prohibited and unfair practices under consumer protection laws. A Shein spokesperson told Euronews that the company is ready to cooperate. 'We welcome efforts that enhance trust and safety for European consumers when shopping online, and believe that a level competitive playing field can benefit the entire ecosystem,' the spokesperson said, adding: 'Our regulatory and compliance teams across the EU will engage our partners at EU and national government-level to study these recommendations and examine how Shein can play our part in strengthening our industry to enhance the online shopping experience for European consumers.' A probe launched by the Commission and the CPC Network into Chinese retailer Temu last November remains ongoing. The EU is planning to propose a Digital Fairness Act to plug gaps in consumer protection rules mid next year.
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Nicotine pouch warning from Oxfordshire Trading Standards
High strength nicotine pouches that are being sold illegally in the UK could cause inadvertent overdosing and harm to teenagers and young adults, experts have pouches - small sachets that fit under the top lip - are largely unregulated and there is currently no law stopping children from buying Standards teams in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Dorset have made more than 1,500 seizures in the past Oxfordshire team said it was seeing "significant growth" in illegal versions containing potentially dangerous levels of government said new legislation would stop nicotine products being marketed to children and it was investing £30m in enforcement. During the last 12 months, Oxfordshire Trading Standards has seized more than 900 packets of non-compliant nicotine pouches from retailers and launched several criminal Dorset, 844 seizures were been made by officers and in Windsor and Maidenhead the products are fairly new there are no specific regulations covering advertising, strength or age they come under General Product Safety Regulations which means they need to be clearly labelled in English with safety Kerman, head of Trading Standards at Oxfordshire County Council said: "Nicotine is a poison, you need to know who to contact if something goes wrong, what to do if you swallow it, how many is safe to have over a period of time. "If it's not in English how are you supposed to know how to use it safely?"He added that he suspects much of the growth in interest in these products is from footballers, influencers and social media.A recent study found one in five professional footballers surveyed was using nicotine pouches and nearly half wanted to general use of nicotine pouches remains low in Great Britain, with research suggesting about five percent of adults and three percent of under-18s having ever tried them. What are the potential harms? Nicotine pouches are often presented in bright packaging with appealing flavours to make them more attractive to young are sometimes informally referred to as 'snus' - although that is a tobacco product that has been banned in the UK and EU since they are less harmful than smoking, they are highly addictive and not recommended for teenagers or pouches contain six to 20 milligrams (mg) of nicotine while some products contain 50mg - that is about five times stronger than an average illegal pouches claim to contain as much as 150mg of nicotine, although tests conducted on behalf of Trading Standards found actual levels varied World Health Organisation said there was a lack of data on the long-term health impact of using nicotine pouches and recommended policy makers should minimise the product's appeal and uptake among young Ward, a GP in Oxfordshire, warned against buying products not labelled in English saying that teenagers and young people could be exposed to dangerous levels of nicotine: "Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, people compare it to other significant drugs like heroin and cocaine."Nicotine effects every organ system in our body, it has an effect on the brain, on our heart. "It is a stimulant that will generally heighten your awareness, agitation, potential anxiety, physical symptoms like being a bit jittery, palpitations, dry mouth, so generally not pleasant symptoms." Brett Crundwell, owner of Triumph Vapes in Didcot, said he was put off nicotine pouches after he experienced a nasty reaction to one at a trade show: "After 20 seconds it was stinging so I moved it to another part of my lip. "I turned to speak to one of my friends and my gums were bleeding."I had a sore on my gums where I first put it on and one of my friend's daughters, who was on a stand with us, tried one and she said 'I've just been to the toilet and I was physically sick after trying this pouch'."Some of the major tobacco companies are behind new nicotine products which are marketed at young people via free giveaways at music festivals and Cheeseman, Chief Executive of Action on Smoking Health (ASH) said companies had been using aggressive marketing strategies to entice underage consumers ahead of the introduction of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill expected later this said: "Many of the big brands are owned by tobacco companies and they're very much using the playbook that they've used over the decades to promote cigarettes to young people and create themselves a new market of young people who perhaps don't smoke but might use these nicotine pouches."Two of the largest companies, Japan Tobacco International and British American Tobacco that are behind brands such as Nordic Spirit and Velo, said their products were only meant for over-18s and they welcomed stronger Department of Health and Social Care said: "Snus is harmful and illegal to sell in the UK, which is why we are cracking down on illicit retailers by boosting funding for enforcement on the high street and at the border."Our Tobacco and Vapes Bill will put us on track for a smoke-free UK and stop vapes and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, from being marketed to children." 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