The tiny nicotine pouches marketed by Philip Morris International with flavors like mint, coffee and citrus are the fastest-growing product in its tobacco business. But these new products are not without risk, as they can lead to addiction and increase one’s risk of gum disease, heart problems and cancer. And the trend toward flavored pouches is raising concerns that they are attracting young people to nicotine and harming their developing brains.Learn more:https://heysnus.com/it/collections/nicotine-pouches

Nicotine pouches (also called vapor pouches, snus or e-snus) are white pouches usually made from plant fibers containing nicotine among other ingredients. They do not include tobacco leaf, dust or stem. The nicotine may be derived from or synthesized, and the pouches come in a variety of strengths to appeal to different tastes. These products are usually sold in small tins of about 15 to 20 pouches.

Nicotine Pouches 101: A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide

Unlike cigarettes, which have been marketed to adults for decades, these products are being promoted and consumed by youths, especially young teens. The companies promote them through social media influencers, and they have targeted their packaging to younger consumers. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently warned of the dangers of these products, calling on federal and Food and Drug Administration regulators to investigate marketing strategies and health impacts.

This article examines research gaps in assessing the harm and benefit potential of these new nicotine products, identifies possible regulatory science approaches to addressing them, and outlines a blueprint for a comprehensive category assessment that can allow policy makers to maximize their public health benefits while mitigating unintended consequences. This framework can be applied to other tobacco harm reduction products and categories, including e-cigarettes, heat not burn and non-tobacco alternatives.