Last week, the World Health Organization admonished the tobacco industry for creating a new wave of young people addicted to tobacco. According to a new report, at least fifteen million children currently vape nicotine, and billions of people in the world are still addicted to one form of tobacco or another. In fact, one in five adults worldwide is addicted to nicotine. While the number of adults addicted to nicotine is trending downward, new products are creating new pathways to addiction.

The UN agency said in a report on Monday that one in five adults worldwide, or 1.2bn people, were still addicted to tobacco, down from 1.38bn in 2000. But the agency warned that new products and technologies, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, were increasingly recruiting new and younger tobacco users, rather than simply supporting ex-smokers to quit. “E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction,” said Etienne Krug, a departmental director at the WHO. “They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”

Nicotine Pouches and Addiction

The World Health Organization says that Big Tobacco just looks for new ways to addict consumers worldwide. One newer mode of using nicotine is the nicotine pouch. Marketed by suppliers as a cleaner, safer way to consume nicotine, a nicotine pouch is a small, white, smokeless product that delivers nicotine through the lining of a person’s gums.

Here’s how to recognize it.

  • The pouch looks a bit like a mini tea bag.
  • It’s placed between a person’s gums and upper lip, where it slowly releases nicotine.
  • Nicotine is absorbed through the oral mucosa (the tissue inside your mouth).
  • After about 20–40 minutes, the user throws the pouch away.

Curbing Nicotine Addiction for New Generations

The WHO wants governments around the globe to increase their regulations regarding the tobacco industry. Raising taxes and banning advertising can help stem the flow of younger users.

Vaping is not the only threat to young people. Touted by the tobacco industry as safer than other forms of nicotine use, pouches are still addictive.

What’s in a Nicotine Pouch

Even though nicotine pouches are marketed as “tobacco-free,” they still contain other chemicals besides nicotine. A typical pouch includes:

  • Nicotine (either synthetic or extracted from tobacco)
  • Plant fibers (used as filler)
  • Flavorings (mint, fruit, coffee, etc.)
  • Sweeteners (like xylitol or acesulfame K)
  • pH adjusters (such as sodium carbonate or bicarbonate, to help the nicotine absorb faster)
  • Moisture agents (like propylene glycol)

These chemicals add flavor and texture as well as help a person’s body absorb the addictive component, nicotine.  They can also irritate your mouth or gums over time and may have other long-term health effects.

However, once heated, other chemicals that users are exposed to are more dangerous. These include:

  • Diacetyl: This additive is meant to enhance e-cigarette flavors. It can also damage small passageways in the lungs.
  • Formaldehyde: This is a toxic chemical that causes lung disease and can contribute to cardiovascular disease.
  • Acrolein: This chemical, also in weed killers, can damage lungs.

Long-Term Consequences of Pouch and Vaping Addiction

Nicotine addiction is not harmless, even when there’s no smoke. There are long-term cardiovascular effects from using any form of nicotine. Vaping is known to cause serious lung problems, including popcorn lungs, in compulsive users, especially young people who don’t understand addiction.

Long-term health consequences are grim when it comes to nicotine addiction.

Countries have trouble regulating new products, which can cause a social health crisis as addicted youngsters grow up and suffer the ill health effects. The WHO urges countries to tighten regulations and for Big Tobacco to stop marketing in a way that attracts young people to their products.

Many parents are unaware of newer products like pouches and patches, and may not recognize the signs of addiction unless they are talking to their teens.

Getting Help for Substance Use Disorder

If you or somebody you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, treatment is available. Many people have found hope and reclaimed their lives through recovery. Learn more about your options for help at 1-800-425-1564.