According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 25 percent of high-school seniors use nicotine, including over 15 percent of sophomores and 8.7 percent of 8th graders. These numbers are disturbingly high, but if that wasn’t already bad enough, a new trend is sweeping the American teenage population: nicotine pouches.
As addiction expert Nicholas Mathews, founder of dual diagnosis treatment facility Stillwater Behavioral Health in California, explains, parents not only need to be aware of this troubling new fad but should also approach their kids about it in the right way.
What are nicotine pouches?
Nicotine pouches are small candy-sized packets that nestle between the gums and lip, allowing nicotine to infiltrate the user’s bloodstream. These pouches can contain different levels of nicotine, and different manufacturers specify that they should be used for different amounts of time. Importantly, they come in appealing flavors like citrus and peppermint, which has made them popular with young people.
“These products usually taste really good,” Mathews explains, “and young people want to do what the cool people do. As nicotine pouches in particular and nicotine products in general gain popularity, more and more teenagers will try them.”
Similar to nicotine gum, nicotine pouches are a nicotine delivery system that doesn’t come with the health risks of smoking. That said, they pose health risks of their own. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggest they can cause not only nausea but also more severe problems such as gum damage and even cardiovascular problems.
In addition, one study analyzed 44 nicotine pouches only to discover that 26 contained carcinogens and other hazardous chemicals, including formaldehyde, ammonia, and chromium.
The biggest problem with nicotine, according to Mathews, is how addictive it is.
Nicotine: A tremendously addictive drug
“Nicotine is a very, very powerful drug, and it’s wildly addictive,” Mathews says. “I don’t think people truly understand how addictive it actually is. It’s up there with some of the most powerfully addicting drugs on the planet because nicotine addiction happens so quickly. Sometimes, all you need to do is try it one or two times, and you’re hooked.”
Since nicotine pouches are designed to taste good and release a temporary flood of the mood-boosting chemical dopamine in the user’s brain, a habit can start quickly. Breaking free of this dependency, on the other hand, is another matter.
“Quitting is very, very complicated — it isn’t an easy thing,” Mathews says. “On top of it, we live in a society in which this drug is accessible. It winds up being a very, very tough habit to kick because it’s just constantly put in front of your face.”
Indeed, a 2024 study found that participants’ awareness of ads for nicotine pouches correlated with higher rates of using them.
So what should parents do? According to Mathews, parents can take a few steps to help ensure their children don’t become addicted to nicotine pouches.
What parents should do
First of all, Mathews advises parents to look for the standard traits of addiction. “Are they irritable? Do they seem to be sneaking around or hiding things?” he asks. If the answer to those questions is “yes,” he recommends opening up a conversation to try to understand them a bit more deeply.
“Don’t lecture them,” Mathews warns. “Instead, this conversation should be an opportunity to see what’s happening with them. You’ve got to give them a platform and hear them out.”
In particular, Mathews warns against establishing an overly strict parenting style. “If you’re constantly creating an environment with a hard set of rules that instills fear in your kids, then you’re never gonna know their full honest answers,” he says. “I’m not saying don’t punish your kids. It’s important to hold them accountable, but if you truly want to know what’s going on, you need to provide an arena where they can be honest without the fear of consequence. That’s the only way to get true, transparent answers.”
This kind of honest, healthy communication is essential if it turns out your kids actually are under the influence of nicotine or other drugs.
“If they are addicted, having that open communication is going to allow you to get an understanding as to why they chose to go that route, why they thought they needed that substance,” Mathews says. “That’s the key to any addiction — understanding the root of it and the reason why. If you just freak out — ‘My God, they’re using nicotine, what am I gonna do?’ – You’re likely never going to get that answer in full transparency until years later.”
While no parent wants to contemplate the idea of their child being addicted to a substance, Mathews advises retaining a sense of perspective.
“Nicotine would be a great place to intervene as a parent because that’s where this kind of stuff starts,” he says. “If you can get somebody off that path at nicotine, then I think you’re doing a great job. I started with nicotine but ended up all the way down to heroin.”
An opportunity to build an authentic relationship with your teen
Nicotine pouches might be the latest teen craze, but by approaching your child about them in the right way, you can help them avoid falling prey to this dangerous addiction. Indeed, by using this subject as a launchpad for open, honest communication, parents have an opportunity to build trust with their teens and initiate more authentic connections. Close relationships like these will likely not only preserve them from further substance abuse but also serve as a buffer during future life challenges of all different kinds.