Health advocates and parents are justifiably becoming alarmed as nicotine pouches continue to rise in popularity among Canadian young people. Ashley Biswanger, 21 Ashley is a senior at the University of South Carolina. She quickly became a case study after using nicotine pouches to wean herself off vaping while still in her teens. Recent reports indicate that about one in 20 Canadian youth have used these pouches. In light of recent events, this raises important questions about their safety and legality.
Health Canada has taken a hard line on nicotine pouches. They define these products as natural health products, restricting use to adults 18 years and older. Still, the appeal of these often fruity or candy-like products has made their instant access a contentious issue. The federal government had an opportunity to act, but it did the opposite by banning sales of nicotine pouches outside pharmacies. This new rule will be going into effect in August 2024.
The Appeal of Nicotine Pouches
Ashley Biswanger started using nicotine pouches while she was still in high school, looking for a vaping alternative. She had first begun with 12 milligram pouches, but with the building of her own personal tolerance, she was soon taking in multiples. “The first time I ever tried it, it was like, ‘Oh my God, this is incredible,’” she said, thinking back to her first encounter with the product.
Longtime health experts have acknowledged that while nicotine does increase alertness and focus, its dangers far outweigh any benefits. Dr. Nicholas Chadi, a pediatrician, warns that “the younger a person is exposed to nicotine, the higher the risk of eventually developing dependence and addiction.” He underscores that nicotine is ultra toxic and addicting to young people. This is alarming as its use amongst teens continues to increase.
David Hammond, a professor at the University of Waterloo, highlighted the troubling trend: “The early signs are that pouches are more popular among Canadian youth than they are among adults.” This is a troubling observation, one that highlights the disconcerting shift in who uses nicotine that health experts have been lamenting.
Regulatory Challenges
Even with these regulations, public health advocates continue to worry over the easy access to nicotine pouches through gas stations and convenience stores. Too often young people get ahold of these products through illegal and unregulated means. This creates a significant barrier to health provider monitoring of usage and sales. CBC News was unable to confirm the authenticity of pouches bought at those stores.
As Hammond noted, “We did ourselves a disservice when we originally approved these pouches. He was talking about the weak regulations that accompanied them at their rollout. Without a minimum legal age for sale or sufficient warnings about their risks, these products have become easily accessible to youth. As the former national ombudsperson for the Canada Energy Regulator, Hammond knows Canada needs a stronger regulatory system. This system should preemptively address emerging nicotine products and curb their attractiveness to underaged consumers.
The Zonnic brand, owned by Imperial Tobacco Canada, is now the only brand legally sold at pharmacy’s. Zonnic pouches contain four milligrams of nicotine and come in mint or menthol flavor. This is a deliberate design decision to make them less attractive to their main audience, young minors. Hammond is adamant that these steps could still be inadequate. He’s concerned that they won’t deter young people from seeking higher doses and more appealing flavors elsewhere.
The Impact on Youth
Nicotine pouches have become popular among young athletes, including hockey players who may avoid vaping due to its impact on cardio performance. Hammond continued that young people are being led to these products because they view them as products that are less harmful. He explained that’s how they were using it at the time because the hockey players weren’t allowed to vape. This was a result of their strenuous cardio exercise regimens.
Personally, Biswanger admitted that her friends took up nicotine pouches for the same reason. Yet, at the same meeting, she raised alarms about the use of nicotine in the long term. “Because I just got so lazy, y’know, as the years progressed,” she confessed. Her experience is a cautionary tale of the dangers of addiction. It outlines the ways we now understand early exposure to nicotine can lead to addiction.
