Are Nicotine Pouches Safe? These Are the Ingredients to Look Out For

Nicotine pouches exploded onto the market in the 2010s as a smoke-free, tobacco-free alternative to traditional cigarettes. You've probably seen them; they line the shelves of convenience stores, and they're popping up in TikTok trends. Consumers enjoy them because they’re discreet and available in a selection of flavors. They're also affordable, typically costing less than a dollar per pouch. They've become increasingly popular with young people, leading to the big question: Are they safe? This article answers this question by looking at the long-term health effects of nicotine pouches.

What Are Nicotine Pouches?

Nicotine pouches are small bags that deliver nicotine through the lining of your mouth. Unlike traditional chewing tobacco or snus, pouches are tobacco-free, though the nicotine itself is often extracted from tobacco plants or synthesized in a lab. You place the pouch between your gum and lip, and over the next 20 to 60 minutes, it releases nicotine gradually. 

The Health Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine can come from tobacco plants, tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants (aubergines), and green peppers, but that doesn't mean it's safe or good for you. Nicotine can also be manufactured in a laboratory. It’s a highly addictive substance, being the active ingredient that gets people hooked on tobacco products. The same nicotine that you find in cigarettes is in approved nicotine pouches, too. Just because it's packaged in pouches doesn't make it any safer to use; pouches often include other ingredients that can pose health risks.

Nicotine and Brain Development

The human brain doesn't finish developing until you're in your mid-20s, so teenagers are still going through important brain development stages. When young people use nicotine, it changes the way the brain wires itself. These effects can be long-lasting.

It's not a pretty picture: research shows how nicotine exposure in adolescence can cause permanent effects on cognition (like learning and memory, and attention). It also increases the chances of young people developing mood disorders.

Nicotine pouches, often categorized with smokeless tobacco products, may be marketed as harmless, but using them carries a high health cost. If you'd like to find out more about how nicotine affects the brain, we've dedicated a whole article to it.

Nicotine and Cardiovascular Effects

When you use nicotine products like oral nicotine and pouches, they stimulate the release of adrenaline. The adrenaline increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Using nicotine long-term can harden your arteries and cause damage to your blood vessels. It also increases your risk of heart disease. Even though nicotine pouches aren't burned and don't release the harmful byproducts of burning tobacco, they do harm your cardiovascular health, potentially leading to cardiovascular disease.

Effects on Oral Health

Nicotine pouches don't stain your teeth like chewing tobacco, but that doesn't mean they're good for your oral health.

Using nicotine pouches repeatedly can cause your gums to recede and mouth sores to develop. It can also irritate the lining inside your mouth. Nicotine reduces blood flow to your gums, making it more difficult for your mouth to heal. This puts you at increased risk of infection.

The longer you keep a nicotine patch in your mouth, the more damage it does. Medical and oral health professionals have voiced their concerns as they consult with an increasing number of patients who have gum damage related to nicotine pouches.

Nicotine Pouch Ingredients

Yes, nicotine pouches are packaged as small, discreet bags, but there’s a lot going on inside them. Here are some of the ingredients in nicotine pouches:

Nicotine

Nicotine can be derived from tobacco plants and other natural sources, but sometimes it's made in a laboratory. It's the addictive ingredient that keeps people hooked on smoking and tobacco products. Nicotine gum is an example of another addictive product that people switch to when they're trying to stop smoking.

Tobacco-Specific Nitrosamines (TSNAs)

TSNAs are a group of carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals found almost exclusively in tobacco products, including nicotine pouches. TSNAs develop during curing, processing, and burning tobacco, when nicotine and alkaloids in tobacco react with other ingredients like nitrites.

TSNAs are one of the biggest contributors to tobacco-related cancers. If TSNAs are present in a product, it usually shows that the nicotine has come from tobacco (even if the product claims to be free from tobacco in marketing).

TSNAs can be found in cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snus (moist snuff), cigars, pipe tobacco, and some nicotine pouches (especially those using tobacco-derived nicotine). They are not found in nicotine replacement therapies (like patches and gum), and Blakk Smoke hookah pens.

Fillers

Nicotine pouches often include plant-based fibers (like cellulose) to give the pouches their shape. The fillers also help with the slow release of nicotine.

pH Adjusters

Bicarbonate or sodium carbonate may also be added to nicotine pouches. These pH adjusters are used to increase the pH level to high levels to absorb nicotine faster through the lining of the mouth.

Flavorings

Flavorings are a big selling point of nicotine pouches. Consumers have a wide selection of flavors to choose from, like mint and coffee, to fruit-flavored nicotine pouches.

Sweeteners

Many pouches also contain sweeteners (like sucralose or xylitol) to mask the other chemicals and make them taste better.

Stabilizers & Preservatives

Tobacco companies use preservatives and stabilizers to extend the shelf life of products.

On their own, these ingredients may look harmless, but when they are combined into a nicotine pouch, the result is a highly addictive and potentially harmful product. And, unlike food products, nicotine pouch brands don’t have to disclose their full list of ingredients, so you can't be completely sure about what you're putting in your body when you use them.

Nicotine Pouches and Quitting Smoking

It's common for tobacco companies to promote nicotine pouches as tools to help you with smoking cessation. Even though they may help you to quit smoking cigarettes, they're not helping you to break the addiction to nicotine. 

When people use nicotine pouches to quit smoking, they may not be getting the tar and smoke byproducts, but they're still using a highly addictive substance. Furthermore, many people end up using nicotine pouches after they've stopped smoking. This just substitutes one nicotine habit for another, because they feel that the pouches are better than "just one" cigarette.

If you want to ditch the nicotine completely, our tobacco-free, nicotine-free hookah pens are much better for your health.

Quit Smoking Alternatives from Blakk Smoke: Nicotine-Free and Flavor-Packed

We're proud to offer unique products that help you let go of nicotine and synthetic chemicals. Our hookah pens work just like disposable vapes, except they're made from real fruit juice, and they're available in a delicious range of flavors. It's a less harmful alternative to smoking: you get the smooth, appealing flavors without the health risks.

Cotton Candy Hookah Pen

Get the classic fairground taste without the harmful chemicals found in traditional nicotine products. Our Cotton Candy Hookah Pen gives you the sweetness without the detrimental effects.

Cherry Koolaid Hookah Pen

Our Cherry Koolaid Hookah Pen is sweet and satisfying, perfect for folks who want the sweetness without the guilt. It's a favorite among ex-smokers who want to quit nicotine use for good.

Tropical Fruit Hookah Pen

Every puff of our Tropical Fruit Hookah Pen is a mini-vacation. Notes of pineapple and mango bring the summer vibe all year long, without the addictive properties of tobacco products.

Even though our hookah pens are nicotine-free, they're only available for purchase by adults over the age of 21.

Nicotine Pouch Products and FDA Approval

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates nicotine pouches under its authority to oversee tobacco products, but only if the nicotine comes from tobacco plants. Brands using tobacco-derived nicotine must send their products for review through the Premarket Tobacco Product Application (PMTA) process.

The FDA reviews these applications for public health impact before they can be marketed legally.

Synthetic Nicotine Loophole

In the past, some companies used synthetic nicotine to bypass FDA regulations. But in March 2022, a new law gave the FDA authority to regulate synthetic nicotine products as well. Now, all nicotine products have to go through FDA review to stay on the market.

Approved vs. Allowed

Right now, very few nicotine pouches have been officially “approved” by the FDA. Many are sold under “enforcement discretion” while their PMTAs are under review. This means they are allowed to be sold, but they haven't been formally approved. If the FDA denies a PMTA, the product must be removed from the market.

If you're using nicotine pouches, there isn't a standard to prove that they are safe or even labeled properly. Using them increases your risk of short- and long-term health effects.

Public Health Concerns and Regulation

Public health organizations, such as the Department of Health and Human Services, monitor nicotine pouches. They’re most concerned with the long-term effects on high school students and young adults, as part of their broader disease control effort.

The reason for this is the way big brands are marketing nicotine pouches to young people, and regulators are calling for better tobacco control. Pouches that contain nicotine are often designed to look like gum or mints. They have trendy branding that attracts the attention of younger people. And, of course, when there isn't strict regulation, young adults and teenagers can be exploited. Experts in the public health sector have warned that these products, alongside other smokeless tobacco products, could create a new generation of nicotine addicts who may not have smoked otherwise.

This is part of the reason why tobacco control beyond traditional tobacco products is so important. Health departments have to keep up with the new products entering the smokeless tobacco market.

Impact on Young People

Marketing nicotine pouches is working very successfully! Nicotine pouch packaging is colorful and easy on the eyes. In fact, the studies show an increasing number of high school students reported either trying or using oral nicotine pouches regularly.

Perhaps the biggest danger to young adults is the fact that early nicotine exposure increases their chances of becoming lifelong users. Teens who start using nicotine pouches may move on to cigarettes or other tobacco products. For this reason, nicotine pouches could be considered a gateway to nicotine addiction rather than smoking cessation products. Experts are calling for more research and public health awareness.

As we mentioned at the beginning, it's important to remember that teens have developing brains, which makes them more vulnerable to nicotine's impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Pouches Safer Than Smoking?

Nicotine pouches can be less harmful than smoking cigarettes because there is no combustion or tar. But this isn't really a "benefit" because it doesn't counteract nicotine addiction, damage to cardiovascular health, or the damage that can happen to your mouth. They may be safer than traditional tobacco products, but we wouldn't call them safe.

Are Nicotine Pouches Addictive?

Yes, all nicotine products are addictive, regardless of whether they're synthetic or derived from tobacco plants. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known.

Can You Use Nicotine Pouches to Quit Smoking?

Some people use nicotine pouches to quit smoking, but if you're thinking about doing that, it's best to give yourself a timeframe. Using pouches won't help you if you want to kick the nicotine habit for good. If you want a cleaner break, our nicotine-free hookah pens are a healthier alternative to traditional e-cigarettes.

What’s the Legal Age for Buying Nicotine Pouches?

The minimum age for buying nicotine pouches is 21. However, it could be possible for underage teens to get hold of them.

Final Thoughts: So, Are Nicotine Pouches Safe?

Nicotine pouches are not safe for human health. They’re less harmful than smoking cigarettes or vaping e-cigarettes, but that doesn't make them harmless. They contain nicotine, so they still pose a risk to your heart, mouth, and brain. Unfortunately, their colorful packaging and carefree marketing strategies don't communicate these health risks well enough.

You may be serious about quitting smoking cigarettes, but are you serious about quitting nicotine? If you are, it's best to avoid tobacco products altogether. Our hookah pens give you a fresh start: fruit-juice flavored, nicotine-free clouds that help you kick the addiction.

References

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “The Health Consequences of Smoking—50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General.” 2014.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults.” Updated 2023.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “FDA Regulation of Tobacco Products.”
• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). “Teens and E-Cigarettes.” National Institutes of Health, 2022.
• American Heart Association. “How Smoking and Nicotine Damage Your Body.”
• Truth Initiative. “What Are Nicotine Pouches?” Updated 2023.
• Johns Hopkins Medicine. “Are E-Cigarettes and Vaping Devices Safe?”
• National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. “Oral Health and Tobacco Use.”
• Journal of Adolescent Health. “Youth Use of Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products.” Vol. 66, Issue 1, 2020.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “Nicotine and the Developing Adolescent Brain.” Updated 2023.