Nicotine pouches are small, spit-free products that look like tea bags and can be used discreetly in places where it’s not convenient to use traditional tobacco or a vape. They contain nicotine, flavorings and other ingredients and are sold in tins similar to e-cigarette tins. In addition to being sold through online and brick-and-mortar stores, they are also popular on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, where they’re promoted by influencers. The companies that sell these products claim they are a safer alternative to cigarettes. However, long-term use of nicotine pouches can cause addiction and lead to other health problems.

The popularity of these new nicotine pouches nikotin beutel has drawn the attention of federal regulators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has asked the Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration to investigate their marketing strategies and health impacts. The makers of one popular brand, Zyn, promote their product by promoting it to young people on social media through so-called “Zynfluencers.” The product has been endorsed by hundreds of influencers on the platform. The influencers aren’t necessarily medical experts, but they do have large followings and may be perceived as such by young users.

The products are marketed to teens and kids by featuring images of young people using them in fun activities, such as hiking or swimming. They are also available in a variety of candy-like flavors that appeal to adolescents, including black cherry, apple mint, berry and lemon spritz. These appealing flavors, along with the fact that these are easy to hide in the mouth and can be used on-the-go, makes them particularly attractive to youths.

In 2021, a representative population survey found that 16% of young people reported trying nicotine pouches at some point, and 12% of them were current users. Those who were currently using them were more likely to be ages 21 or older and male, and had lower incomes than those who didn’t use them. Unlike similar oral tobacco products that do contain tobacco, such as snus, which is very popular in Sweden, the tobacco-free nicotine pouches are relatively new and little research has been done on their long-term health effects.

Researchers have already found that nicotine pouches, in addition to containing the addictive chemical nicotine, are also full of cancer-causing chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines TSNAs. These chemicals can be absorbed through the skin and can damage the lungs and other organs.

The long-term health effects of pouches remain unknown, but research suggests they’re less harmful than cigarettes or other combustible tobacco products. However, the products are not a substitute for quitting tobacco and should only be used by legal-age adults.

It’s also important to remember that nicotine is still an addictive drug, and even reduced exposure can harm the developing adolescent brain, University Health Center medical experts and Nebraska Medicine certified tobacco treatment specialist Jill Selzle say. Because the products are not regulated by the FDA the same as other tobacco and smokeless tobacco products, it’s critical to understand their full impact and help smokers quit using them.