A recent article by Griffith University’s Blurred Minds Academy raises concerns about nicotine pouches, suggesting that they are being marketed in a way that appeals to minors. While protecting youth is critical, this narrative misrepresents the purpose and regulatory framework surrounding these products—and risks derailing an important harm reduction strategy for adults seeking safer alternatives to smoking.
These Products Are for Adults—Not Minors
Let’s be clear: nicotine pouches are intended for adult smokers, not teenagers. They are developed as smoke-free, combustion-free alternatives for those who are already addicted to nicotine via cigarettes. They are not designed, marketed, or legally sold for underage use. In fact, most reputable manufacturers follow strict guidelines to prevent youth access, including age-gating, product labeling, and responsible retail practices.
What’s needed is better enforcement of existing laws, not misinformation that stigmatizes harm reduction tools used by millions of adult smokers across the world.
Why Adult Smokers Turn to Nicotine Pouches
Unlike cigarettes, which release thousands of harmful chemicals through combustion, nicotine pouches:
- Do not involve burning – removing tar and many toxins from the equation.
- Produce no secondhand smoke or vapor, making them safer for others and more suitable in smoke-free environments.
- Offer discreet, convenient use in public or professional settings.
- Avoid the strong odor associated with smoking, making them more socially acceptable.
These characteristics are exactly why adult smokers, who either can’t quit or aren’t ready to, turn to nicotine pouches as a less harmful option. They’re part of a broader movement toward tobacco harm reduction—endorsed by scientists, doctors, and public health professionals in countries like Sweden, the UK, and New Zealand.
Let’s Talk About Youth Education—Not Fear Tactics
Dr. James Durl’s claim that nicotine pouches are “highly addictive and unpredictable” overlooks a basic truth: nicotine itself is addictive, yes—but its harm is primarily tied to how it’s delivered. Combustion is the killer, not nicotine. Demonizing nicotine alternatives without scientific context only creates confusion among youth and adults alike.
If we want to protect young people, we need:
- Clear, fact-based education about all nicotine products, not fear-driven messaging.
- Stronger retail enforcement to prevent underage sales.
- Truthful public health messaging that distinguishes between high-risk (smoking) and lower-risk (non-combustible) products.
Harm Reduction and Public Health Must Go Hand in Hand
Reducing smoking-related disease and death requires embracing science-backed strategies—like nicotine pouches—for adult users. At the same time, preventing youth access remains critical. We can do both.
Let’s shift the conversation from panic to progress. Nicotine pouches are not the enemy—they’re part of the solution.
🔗 Read the original article from Griffith University here:
https://news.griffith.edu.au/2025/04/23/youth-need-the-truth-about-illegal-nicotine-pouches