This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgj87dz28eeo
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Nicotine pouches helped me quit vaping – but now I'm addicted | Nicotine pouches helped me quit vaping – but now I'm addicted |
| (2 months later) | |
| 'I started nicotine pouches to get off vapes, but it's just another addiction' | 'I started nicotine pouches to get off vapes, but it's just another addiction' |
| Johnpaul began using nicotine pouches to help him get off vapes – but says it just led to another addiction. | Johnpaul began using nicotine pouches to help him get off vapes – but says it just led to another addiction. |
| At one stage he was using 15 pouches a day, although the 16-year-old has now cut back to five. | At one stage he was using 15 pouches a day, although the 16-year-old has now cut back to five. |
| Health experts say the pouches – small sachets that fit between the top lip and the gum, nicknamed "snus" by some teenagers - are addictive and may have other harmful side effects. | Health experts say the pouches – small sachets that fit between the top lip and the gum, nicknamed "snus" by some teenagers - are addictive and may have other harmful side effects. |
| They are largely unregulated in the UK and there is currently no law to stop children buying them. | They are largely unregulated in the UK and there is currently no law to stop children buying them. |
| Some campaigners fear that the ban on disposable vapes which comes into effect on 1 June could see more young people turning to the stronger nicotine pouches. | Some campaigners fear that the ban on disposable vapes which comes into effect on 1 June could see more young people turning to the stronger nicotine pouches. |
| Johnpaul started using the pouches as a coping mechanism, and to help him get off vapes. | Johnpaul started using the pouches as a coping mechanism, and to help him get off vapes. |
| "It just led to another addiction," he said. "It's just an instant hit. It makes me forget my surroundings. | "It just led to another addiction," he said. "It's just an instant hit. It makes me forget my surroundings. |
| "I'm not going to say I don't enjoy that, I do, but there are still a lot more negatives to it than there are positives." | "I'm not going to say I don't enjoy that, I do, but there are still a lot more negatives to it than there are positives." |
| Johnpaul is working with other young people to raise awareness about nicotine pouches as part of a project with the charity Fast Forward and the Skills Training Programme at West Lothian Council. | Johnpaul is working with other young people to raise awareness about nicotine pouches as part of a project with the charity Fast Forward and the Skills Training Programme at West Lothian Council. |
| While packs contain age restriction warnings, Johnpaul says he has no problem buying them. | While packs contain age restriction warnings, Johnpaul says he has no problem buying them. |
| "At the moment, I really don't want to stop, but I definitely want to cut down and cut down the amount of milligrams I'm taking. | "At the moment, I really don't want to stop, but I definitely want to cut down and cut down the amount of milligrams I'm taking. |
| "Just keep it as low as I can, so it'll be a lot easier to quit when I feel that I'm ready to." | "Just keep it as low as I can, so it'll be a lot easier to quit when I feel that I'm ready to." |
| Lee wishes he had never started using the pouches | Lee wishes he had never started using the pouches |
| Lee, 16, says he and most of his friends use nicotine pouches – although he wishes he had never started. | Lee, 16, says he and most of his friends use nicotine pouches – although he wishes he had never started. |
| "Most times people wouldn't know because it's tucked away in your gum and sometimes you can push it up so people really can't see it," he said. | "Most times people wouldn't know because it's tucked away in your gum and sometimes you can push it up so people really can't see it," he said. |
| "I've tried to stop before, but it's something you can get highly addicted to, which is quite a bad thing. | "I've tried to stop before, but it's something you can get highly addicted to, which is quite a bad thing. |
| "If I could go back and not start, I would." | "If I could go back and not start, I would." |
| Aleksandra, 16, has tried nicotine pouches, but says they're not for her. | Aleksandra, 16, has tried nicotine pouches, but says they're not for her. |
| "It was fine for the first five minutes and after you swallow your spit it doesn't taste good. | "It was fine for the first five minutes and after you swallow your spit it doesn't taste good. |
| "It burns and it makes you feel sick. It wasn't great." | "It burns and it makes you feel sick. It wasn't great." |
| She says the products are marketed towards young people on social media and given away at railway stations, where they can easily be given to teenagers who look older. | She says the products are marketed towards young people on social media and given away at railway stations, where they can easily be given to teenagers who look older. |
| The use of nicotine pouches is thought to be higher among young men | The use of nicotine pouches is thought to be higher among young men |
| Leigh Ronald from Fast Forward, which offers health and wellbeing support, says young people are increasingly talking about pouches and looking to find out more information. | Leigh Ronald from Fast Forward, which offers health and wellbeing support, says young people are increasingly talking about pouches and looking to find out more information. |
| She says it is likely that they will look for alternatives, like nicotine pouches, when the ban on disposable vapes comes into effect across the UK on 1 June. | She says it is likely that they will look for alternatives, like nicotine pouches, when the ban on disposable vapes comes into effect across the UK on 1 June. |
| Most pouches contain six to 20 milligrams (mg) of nicotine, while some contain 50mg - about five times stronger than an average cigarette. | Most pouches contain six to 20 milligrams (mg) of nicotine, while some contain 50mg - about five times stronger than an average cigarette. |
| The pouches are often referred to as snus, although that is a different product which contains tobacco and has been banned in the UK and EU since 1992. | The pouches are often referred to as snus, although that is a different product which contains tobacco and has been banned in the UK and EU since 1992. |
| The general use of nicotine pouches remains low in Great Britain. | The general use of nicotine pouches remains low in Great Britain. |
| Research suggests that about 5% of adults and 3% of under-18s have tried them – but use appears to be increasing and is higher in some groups, particularly young men. | Research suggests that about 5% of adults and 3% of under-18s have tried them – but use appears to be increasing and is higher in some groups, particularly young men. |
| Alan McLevy says VPZ operates a Challenge 25 policy on nicotine pouches | Alan McLevy says VPZ operates a Challenge 25 policy on nicotine pouches |
| One popular brand reported a 121% increase in sales in 2023. | One popular brand reported a 121% increase in sales in 2023. |
| Retailers approached by BBC Scotland said they did not sell nicotine pouches to under-18s. | Retailers approached by BBC Scotland said they did not sell nicotine pouches to under-18s. |
| Alan McLevy is head of manufacturing at VPZ, which sells vapes, pouches and other nicotine products. | Alan McLevy is head of manufacturing at VPZ, which sells vapes, pouches and other nicotine products. |
| He says his firm operates a Challenge 25 policy and that its aim is to help people quit smoking. | He says his firm operates a Challenge 25 policy and that its aim is to help people quit smoking. |
| He said: "If you've not smoked before, if you've not vaped before, there's absolutely no need to buy a pouch. None whatsoever. | He said: "If you've not smoked before, if you've not vaped before, there's absolutely no need to buy a pouch. None whatsoever. |
| "It's a harm reduction technique and it's for current smokers to find a way to stop using combustible cigarettes." | "It's a harm reduction technique and it's for current smokers to find a way to stop using combustible cigarettes." |
| Dr Zoe Coyle has concerns about young people using nicotine pouches | Dr Zoe Coyle has concerns about young people using nicotine pouches |
| Dr Richard Holliday, senior lecturer at the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University, says nicotine pouches are less harmful than cigarettes - but not risk free. | Dr Richard Holliday, senior lecturer at the School of Dental Sciences at Newcastle University, says nicotine pouches are less harmful than cigarettes - but not risk free. |
| His team recently published an article on nicotine pouches in the British Dental Journal that was downloaded more than 250,000 times. | His team recently published an article on nicotine pouches in the British Dental Journal that was downloaded more than 250,000 times. |
| It says more research is needed and that there may be an impact on oral health – such as gum recession. | It says more research is needed and that there may be an impact on oral health – such as gum recession. |
| "The paper has obviously touched a nerve. I think a lot of people are looking for information on this topic," he says. | "The paper has obviously touched a nerve. I think a lot of people are looking for information on this topic," he says. |
| Dr Zoe Coyle, a lecturer at the Dental Institute in Edinburgh, also warned that repeated use of nicotine pouches can lead to gum recession and other issues with teeth and lips. | Dr Zoe Coyle, a lecturer at the Dental Institute in Edinburgh, also warned that repeated use of nicotine pouches can lead to gum recession and other issues with teeth and lips. |
| "I would be concerned particularly about young people using nicotine pouches," she says. | "I would be concerned particularly about young people using nicotine pouches," she says. |
| Sheila Duffy from Ash Scotland says the pouches are highly addictive | Sheila Duffy from Ash Scotland says the pouches are highly addictive |
| Sheila Duffy, chief executive of anti-smoking charity Ash Scotland, says teachers have raised concerns about the pouches, which retail at "pocket money prices". | Sheila Duffy, chief executive of anti-smoking charity Ash Scotland, says teachers have raised concerns about the pouches, which retail at "pocket money prices". |
| "It's very fast absorbed, it can easily be twice the level of nicotine in nicotine replacement therapy. So this is very highly addictive," she said. | "It's very fast absorbed, it can easily be twice the level of nicotine in nicotine replacement therapy. So this is very highly addictive," she said. |
| "Addiction to nicotine in any form opens you up to the whole profile of products – industry knows this. | "Addiction to nicotine in any form opens you up to the whole profile of products – industry knows this. |
| "So a kid that starts using nicotine pouches, which are easily concealed, which may be highly flavoured and attractive because they've been pushed through social media, that child is much more at risk of ending up as a smoker." | "So a kid that starts using nicotine pouches, which are easily concealed, which may be highly flavoured and attractive because they've been pushed through social media, that child is much more at risk of ending up as a smoker." |
| UK-wide legislation is being proposed to ban the sale of nicotine products - including pouches - to under-18s. | UK-wide legislation is being proposed to ban the sale of nicotine products - including pouches - to under-18s. |
| The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also stop free distribution and give ministers the power to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of all vapes and other nicotine products. | The Tobacco and Vapes Bill would also stop free distribution and give ministers the power to regulate the flavours, packaging and display of all vapes and other nicotine products. |
| Ash Scotland say it is a step in the right direction, but fears that the introduction of new regulations will take too long. | Ash Scotland say it is a step in the right direction, but fears that the introduction of new regulations will take too long. |
| A spokesperson for Philip Morris Limited, which makes the Zyn brand of pouches, said it supported the introduction of a minimum age of 18. | |
| "Independent studies in the UK and globally confirm that there is very low use of nicotine pouches by minors," it said. | |
| "There is no evidence that nicotine pouches are a gateway to smoking and in fact data shows they can play a vital role in helping to reduce smoking rates among adults who smoke. | |
| "Scaremongering around unsubstantiated concerns about the health impact of reduced harm alternatives will simply prolong cigarette use." |
Previous version
1
Next version