Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are legally restricted to adults in Canada, but advocates and studies say illicit online and in-store sales are getting them to teens, who can become hooked on nicotine.
Should I worry?
These small pouches are tucked between the lip and gum, so there is no smoke or smell, and they are easy to hide at school or at home. Nicotine is addictive, and teens can get hooked faster than they expect. In Canada they are meant to be sold only to adults for quitting smoking, yet the federal health minister has acknowledged an illicit market, and advocates say there is little enforcement. Things to notice: unfamiliar small round tins or pouches, new irritability or cravings, a sore mouth, or a teen who is secretive about online orders or packages. Stay calm and curious rather than punitive. Ask where they got them, since that tells you whether it is a friend, a store or a website, and help them find support to stop if they are already using.
How to join in
Teens hear about nicotine pouches as a discreet, flavoured alternative to vaping, and some see them as a harmless or even trendy product because they are smoke-free. A good way in is to ask what they have heard or seen among friends, or on social media, and what they think the appeal is. Listen first. Then share that the pouches are legally sold to adults only for a reason: nicotine is addictive whatever form it comes in.
Try saying
“I've been reading about nicotine pouches and I'm curious what you've heard about them at school or online. I'm not mad or checking up on you. I just want you to know that nicotine hooks people fast, and if you or a friend ever feel stuck with it, you can tell me and we'll figure it out together.”
If you’re worried
If your teen is using and wants help stopping, Kids Help Phone is free and confidential: call 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868. Your family doctor or pharmacist can also talk through options. If your teen feels unwell after using a pouch, or swallowed one by accident, call your provincial poison centre (in Quebec, the Centre antipoison du Québec). Call 911 if they are seriously ill, faint or have trouble breathing.
Sources
From Mistlift, mistlift.app. Plain talk about what kids are into online.