Terrifying Impact Nicotine Pouches Can Have On Your Body Despite Being A 'Safer' Alternative To Smoking

Experts have warned that nicotine pouches are far from risk-free, even though many people view them as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. They have gained a reputation for being a cleaner option, but specialists say that impression can be misleading.

The pouches were created to help people who want to cut down on smoking or who want a nicotine hit without the smell that comes with cigarettes. For some, the appeal is convenience. For others, it is the belief that they are safer.

They are used by placing a pouch under the top lip, letting it sit against the gum so it can slowly release nicotine into the body. After the pouch is used up, it is thrown away. While simple, this method still delivers nicotine efficiently, which is one of the reasons health experts are sounding the alarm.

Although nicotine pouches can help some people quit cigarettes, experts say they can also introduce nicotine to people who otherwise would not have used it. This has raised concerns about whether these products are unintentionally encouraging a new group of users to take up nicotine.

According to Vaughan Rees from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, young people may see these pouches as less risky than smoking. That perception can make them appealing, even though they still carry real health concerns.

Another issue is how nicotine affects the body. Despite being advertised as a healthier option, pouches can still trigger changes that are concerning. The idea that they are “safer” does not mean they are harmless.

Nicotine pouches are addictive Shavel Ludmila/ Getty Stock

What do nicotine pouches do to the body?

Adam Leventhal, PhD, director of the Institute for Addiction Science at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine, told SELF that nicotine pouches are safer than using tobacco or vaping. However, he emphasized that they still pose a risk of nicotine addiction, especially for people who did not use nicotine before.

Leventhal told SELF: "Your brain gets used to having nicotine in your system, so you don't get the same mood or attention boost on it as you did previously."

Dr. Donna Shelley, professor and vice dean for research at the New York University School of Global Public Health, also noted that calling these products “safe” is misleading. She pointed out that the lack of tobacco does not mean the pouches come without health risks.

"Some of the negative health effects of the nicotine pouches include gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, gum soreness and ulcers, and also some cardiovascular risks like elevated heart rate," she told NBC News last year.

She added: "We don't know the full safety profile yet."

Overall, the pouches can lead to several health issues, including:

• gum irritation
• nicotine addiction
• sore mouth
• upset stomach

Nicotine use in general can also contribute to:

• heart, stomach, and fertility problems
• weakened immune system

Why are experts worried?

Because nicotine pouches do not contain tobacco or the same cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarettes, some people may wrongly assume they are harmless. That misconception has sparked concern among health experts.

"Usually when you say that something is free of something, it makes it seem less harmful," said Tory Spindle, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.

It can come at a cost AndreyPopov/ Getty Stock

"Our concern is that, well, does that make them more appealing to someone that otherwise would have never tried any tobacco product?"

He explained that the challenge lies in making these products accessible to adults who want a less harmful alternative, while also making sure they do not accidentally create a new generation of nicotine users.

Rees said: "Teens and young adults who do not smoke or vape should avoid this product."

One of the most well-known brands, Zyn, became the first oral nicotine pouch approved for marketing by the FDA in January. The agency said the pouches may offer benefits to adults who smoke cigarettes or use smokeless tobacco, as long as those benefits outweigh the risks — including the risks to young people.

The FDA noted that youth use remains relatively low, with only 1.7 percent of American middle and high school students reporting use in 2024. Even so, the agency emphasized that nicotine pouches still carry health risks compared to going nicotine-free.

The FDA also said that these pouches pose a “lower risk of cancer and other serious health conditions” than smokeless products like moist snuff and snus, although they are not without consequences.

Philip Morris, the company that now owns Zyn, said in a statement that it is “committed to developing products such as Zyn that are scientifically substantiated as a better alternative to continued smoking.”

The company added that its marketing for Zyn is aimed at legal-age nicotine users who are 21 and older, rather than younger audiences.