What Is ZYN And What Are Oral Nicotine Pouches?
Oral nicotine pouches are becoming increasingly popular, particularly as youth e-cigarette use remains a significant health concern. By 2024, 10% of high school students reported using these products. buy zyn australia
As cigarette smoking continues to decline, tobacco companies are shifting their focus toward “smokeless tobacco products,” including oral nicotine pouches. Often referred to as “lip pillows” or “upperdecky” due to their placement under the upper lip, these pouches function similarly to snus. However, unlike snus, which contains shredded tobacco leaves, nicotine pouches are made with nicotine powder and are entirely tobacco-free. Despite this, nicotine pouches pose a significant health risk to young people. The Food and Drug Administration classifies these products as smokeless tobacco, even though they lack tobacco leaves.
Brands like ZYN and VELO have seen a surge in popularity. Between August and December 2019, nicotine pouch sales totaled 126.06 million units, skyrocketing to 808.14 million units by March 2023. Products with higher nicotine concentrations, such as 8 mg, have experienced faster growth in sales compared to lower-strength options like 4 mg or 6 mg. Altria has also announced plans to introduce an updated version of its On! nicotine pouches, branded as On! Plus, with new strengths of 6, 9, and 12 mg.
A recent study co-authored by Truth Initiative revealed that advertisements for oral nicotine pouches focus heavily on flavors and the “freedom” to use them anywhere. Between January 2019 and September 2021, leading brands invested nearly $25 million in advertising. The Truth Initiative has called on federal agencies to include nicotine pouches in national tobacco use surveys. The CDC responded by including these products in the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which estimated that 1.1% of middle and high school students had used them. By 2023, this figure rose to 1.5%.
Key Points to Know About Nicotine Pouches
Nicotine Strengths
Nicotine content varies across brands. In the U.S., ZYN offers 3, 6, and 8 mg strengths, while VELO provides options at 2, 4, and 7 mg. On! offers a wider range, including 1.5, 2, 3.5, 4, and 8 mg, and the upcoming On! Plus will introduce strengths of 6, 9, and 12 mg.
Flavour Options
Nicotine pouches come in a variety of flavours, including fruit and mint, making them particularly appealing to younger users.
Concerns about flavored nicotine products remain high. Although federal restrictions have limited JUUL pod flavours due to their popularity among youth, other flavoured nicotine products, like disposable e-cigarettes, remain widely available. Exemptions from FDA flavour restrictions in January 2021 led to a sharp increase in menthol-flavoured e-cigarettes, with their market share more than doubling and sales rising by nearly $60 million.
According to 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey data, flavours remain a significant factor in youth tobacco use. A striking 89% of young e-cigarette users reported choosing flavoured versions.
