Nicotine Pouch Use Among Young Australians Sparks Concern

Illustration picture shows nicotine pouches on sale at a newspaper shop in Brussels, on Jan. 25, 2023. JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Concerns around nicotine pouch use among young Australians have been raised after a recent survey of Australians aged 16 to 39 years old found that 26 percent had used pouches before.

Nicotine pouches are small prefilled bags of nicotine that are placed between the lip and gum to dissolve and absorb into the bloodstream. The pouches are illegal to buy or sell without a prescription.

Yet, out of the 1,598 respondents, 19 percent had used nicotine pouches in the last 30 days and one-third reported procuring the pouches from a tobacconist.

The Melbourne University researcher who conducted the study, Michelle Jongenelis said that the survey results suggest nicotine pouches should be monitored. Research on nicotine pouches and Australian usage is currently limited.

“It’s important for governments to be vigilant to attempts by the industry and its retail sector allies to hook the next generation,” she said.

Another Product as Government Cracks Down on Vapes

This survey comes as Australia undergoes a crackdown on vapes. After several reforms, vapes now must be sold in pharmacies, non-pharmacy retailers like tobacconists cannot sell vapes, and vape flavours are limited to mint, menthol, and tobacco.

Jongenelis said that enforcement of new vape laws should include other illegal nicotine products and that it was important not to lose sight of emerging addictive products marketed to younger Australians.

“It isn’t surprising that with all the attention on vapes, the industry and its retail sector allies have quietly started promoting and selling a new addictive product to young Australians,” she said.

“It is concerning that these addictive products are finding their way into the hands of adolescents.”

In this photo illustration, a selection of disposable vapes with bright and colourful packaging are seen in London on Jan. 29, 2024. Leon Neal/Getty Images

Quit Director Rachael Anderson criticised the tobacco industry for its predatory tactics to get new customers.

“New products from the Big Tobacco industry are just new ways to addict susceptible young people to nicotine,” Anderson said.

“We are concerned about the potential health consequences and the rate at which people can become dependent on using nicotine pouches.”

Why Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches are appealing to young Australians because they are discreet and can be filled with sweeteners and many different flavours. Out of the participants who use nicotine pouches 34 percent reported “they come in flavours I like” as their reason for use.

Another common reason for 32 percent of the respondents using the pouches was that nicotine pouches helped them quit smoking.

The study found that men and people who currently used tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes were more likely to use nicotine pouches.