Nicotine Pouch Use in Adolescents Associated with Reduced Vaping Persistence
Research shows that nicotine pouch use among teens may lower the likelihood of continued vaping, offering insights into youth tobacco behavior and potential harm reduction strategies.
Recent research indicates that the use of nicotine pouches among teenagers may be linked to a decreased likelihood of continued vaping. This study, published in the journal Pediatrics, analyzed data collected from a cohort of Southern California adolescents between 2021 and 2024. The researchers aimed to understand whether oral nicotine products (ONPs), including nicotine pouches, influence vaping behaviors over time.
The study involved 703 participants with a mean age of 16 who had used electronic cigarettes within the six months prior to the survey. Examining six waves of data, it was found that teenagers who reported using ONPs in the past six months were less likely to persist with vaping six months later. Specifically, the analysis showed that recent use of nicotine pouches and other ONPs was associated with a lower risk ratio for continued vaping (0.43 to 0.75). Furthermore, adolescents who used nicotine pouches in the past 30 days also showed a significant reduction in vaping frequency, suggesting that these products might serve as a substitute rather than an enhancer for vaping.
The authors, led by Alyssa F. Harlow, emphasized that current evidence does not support the idea that ONP use promotes increased vaping among youth. Instead, these findings suggest that nicotine pouches could potentially be a lower-risk alternative, or even a substitute, that might reduce the progression or persistence of vaping behaviors. However, the researchers highlight the need for ongoing monitoring to better understand how these products impact youth tobacco habits, especially considering their appeal to tobacco-naive youth and their role alongside other tobacco use.
This study adds valuable insight into the complex relationship between new nicotine delivery devices and adolescent vaping patterns, informing future public health strategies aimed at reducing youth tobacco and nicotine use.
[Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-nicotine-pouch-teens-linked-vaping.html]
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