US study finds nicotine pouches may help tobacco users quit, but safety remains to be determined

Key Points:

·Trend: A study in the United States found that recent quitters are 3.9 times more likely to use nicotine pouches compared to others.

·User demographics: Nicotine pouch users are primarily smokers, e-cigarette users, and smokeless tobacco users. 

·Quitting potential: Nicotine pouches may play a role in helping some smokers quit. 

·Regulatory updates: The FDA in the United States plans to expedite the review of nicotine pouches from four tobacco companies. 

·Safety concerns: While nicotine pouches may help reduce harm, their long-term safety remains uncertain.

2Firsts, September 17, 2025 - According to a report from drugs.com on September 15, a new study in the United States suggests that nicotine pouches may be helping tobacco users quit smoking and quit e-cigarettes.

These nicotine pouches (such as the Velo and Zyn brands) cannot be marketed as smoking cessation aids like nicotine patches or gum, researchers say.

However, researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open that some individuals appear to be using these nicotine pouches to obtain nicotine without having to resort to smoking.

Researchers have found that individuals who recently quit smoking are almost more likely to use nicotine pouches daily.

Our research findings suggest that adults may use nicotine pouches for harm reduction purposes, as the highest rates of use are among those who have recently quit another tobacco product or e-cigarette," said Chief Researcher Cristine Delnevo. She is the director of the Rutgers University Nicotine and Tobacco Research Institute in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine pouches contain a powder made up of nicotine, flavorings, and other ingredients. Typically, people place the nicotine pouch between their lips and gums, where the nicotine is absorbed.

For this study, researchers analyzed survey data on tobacco use among more than 110,000 Americans collected by the US Census Bureau in 2022 and 2023.

Few people have ever used nicotine pouches, with approximately 2.6% of individuals reporting that they have tried them.

The use of nicotine pouches by individuals who have never tried any tobacco products is almost nonexistent.

On the contrary, individuals who use nicotine pouches are often smokers, e-cigarette users, or users of smokeless tobacco. Researchers have found that:

·People who smoke occasionally are 2.4 times more likely to use nicotine pouches than others. 

·Those who occasionally use e-cigarettes are 3.9 times more likely to use nicotine pouches than others. 

·Former smokers are 3.9 times more likely to use nicotine pouches than others. 

·Non-tobacco users are more than 10 times more likely to use nicotine pouches than others.

These numbers indicate that nicotine pouches may play a role in helping some smokers in their efforts to quit, researchers say.

Mary Hrywna, Associate Professor at the Rutgers School of Public Health, says that with nicotine pouches attracting increasing attention in the United States, many believe there is a need for a better understanding of who is using these products and how they are being used.

According to Reuters, these findings coincide with the news that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planning to expedite the review of nicotine pouches from four tobacco companies.

In January 2025, the FDA approved for the first time a nicotine pouch called Zyn, produced by a Swedish company. Currently, Zyn remains the only nicotine pouch approved by the FDA.

Dellnivo pointed out that nicotine is highly addictive and can potentially impact heart health, so the safety of nicotine pouches is still uncertain. However, nicotine itself is not associated with cancer like smoking is.

People who have never used tobacco products should not suddenly start using nicotine pouches," Delnevo said. "But for those who smoke or use other nicotine products and do not want to quit nicotine, switching completely from more harmful products to nicotine pouches could be beneficial for public health.