Over the past few years, a new way to consume nicotine has become increasingly popular. Zyn, a new brand of oral nicotine pouches that are placed between the gum and lip, have gained traction amongst young people due to their discrete nature. Because young users can put these in their mouths and not have to smoke or vape anything, these products are easy to hide and difficult to spot. While vaping still remains the most commonly used nicotine product among U.S. youth, nicotine pouches have recently soared to the number two spot (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). In fact, “sales of nicotine pouches… increased from 126 million pouches in August 2019 to 808 million in March 2022,” and those numbers are still on the rise (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Zyn are small, white pouches filled with nicotine powder or nicotine salts, a granulation agent, fillers, pH balancers, sweeteners, and flavorings. There are several Zyn flavors, including mint, citrus, cinnamon, coffee, and more. The pouches are placed in the mouth, between the gum and lip, where the nicotine is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Young people are specifically drawn to the product because it does not require smoking or inhaling, which creates the false impression that it is a healthier alternative to traditional smoking. Yet, despite the lack of inhalation, there are still serious risks associated with nicotine consumption. Despite often being marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, it is critical to recognize that nicotine is highly addictive and comes with many health risks, regardless of the consumption method. According to the CDC, because nicotine pouches did not enter the U.S. market until 2016, scientists are still investigating their short-term and long-term health effects. That said, it is proven that nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development in users under the age of 25, specifically impacting parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Additionally, adolescents who use nicotine are at an increased risk of future addiction to other drugs. Moreover, the use of nicotine pouches can lead to immediate adverse effects, like gum irritation, mouth sores, tooth decay, increased heart rate, and more. It is also critical to note that, “Unburned tobacco contains about 16 carcinogens,” all of which are detrimental to one’s health (Patwardhan & Fagerström, 2021). Social media has played a major role in the rise of nicotine pouches, largely through the emergence of “Zynfluencers.” Zynfluencers are essentially social media influencers who casually promote the use of Zyn through lifestyle content on social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram. This is especially dangerous as youth who are unfamiliar with Zyn are more likely to try it if they see popular influencers featuring them in their viral content. The hashtag #ZYN has reached 700 million views on TikTok, seemingly normalizing nicotine pouches on the platform and making them appear less harmful than vaping, which is not the case. As parents and community members, it is essential to educate those around you about what Zyn is, and be on alert for signs that young people may be using them. Zyn come in small, circular, flat plastic containers that closely resemble the containers of Ice Breakers mints, making them easy to overlook and conceal. It is also crucial to have open and honest conversations with children about the dangers of all nicotine products, emphasizing that something being “smoke-free” does not mean that it is safe. Raising awareness can help prevent youth from falling into nicotine usage. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Nicotine pouches. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/nicotine-pouches/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Nicotine pouch awareness, use, and reasons for use among U.S. middle and high school students—National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2023. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73(41), 871–876. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7341a2.htm CNN. (2024, December 30). Zyn's growing popularity among young users raises concerns. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/30/health/zyn-young-users/index.html The Lung Association. (2024). Zyn and nicotine addiction: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/blog/zyn-nicotine-addiction National Library of Medicine. (2022). Nicotine pouches: A review of the science and policy implications. Public Health Reports, 137(2), 320–330. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8887571/ The New York Times. (2024, January 12). Children, nicotine, and Zyn: The role of social media. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/12/opinion/children-nicotine-zyn-social-media.html ZYN. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions. Retrieved from https://us.zyn.com/questions/
