Oral nicotine pouches are not the same as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like nicotine lozenges or gum. NRT includes medications that are approved and regulated by the FDA. Decades of research, as well as a 2020 report from the Surgeon General, confirms that NRT is safe to use (even long-term) and is an effective way to quit tobacco products for good.
Oral nicotine pouches can contain high levels of nicotine, and a study from 2022 found that sales of oral nicotine pouches containing the highest nicotine concentration (8 mg) increased faster than sales of pouches with a lower nicotine concentration (6, 4, or 3 mg), raising concerns about the addictiveness of these products. In addition, a study found that many young people who use oral nicotine pouches also use a different tobacco product, which can increase the risk of nicotine addiction and dependence and makes quitting more challenging. The study, published in Preventive Medicine, found that most young people (73%) who use oral nicotine pouches also smoke cigarettes, and nearly half (49%) vape nicotine. Nicotine in any form is addictive and harmful to developing brains, and using nicotine pouches and other tobacco products concurrently increases the risk of addiction.
The good news is, if you are currently vaping, smoking, or using other tobacco products, there are resources to help you quit. You can also quit Zyn with similar strategies to quitting other nicotine products.