Can oral nicotine pouches like Zyn help people quit vaping nicotine?

Topic

Emerging Tobacco Products

Subtopic

RELATED MATERIALS

What is Zyn and what are oral nicotine pouches?

What is “tobacco-free” nicotine?

As oral nicotine pouches from brands such as Zyn, On!, and Velo have gained popularity, they have raised concerns about their high nicotine content, youth-appealing flavors, and misleading claims about their health risks. On top of that, the products are also causing confusion about whether they can be used to quit smoking, vaping, and other tobacco products.

Oral nicotine pouches have spiked in popularity over the last several years, with unit sales increasing by six-fold between 2019 and 2022 and manufacturers building on marketing methods used by e-cigarette companies to target young people including through rewards programs.

Tobacco users of all ages frequently come to EX Program, a comprehensive quit program by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic, with questions related to Zyn and how to quit using it, as well as how to use nicotine replacement therapy. We answered some of their questions below.

Oral nicotine pouches are not approved by the FDA for any use, including as a tool for quitting nicotine. Nicotine pouches can contain high concentrations of nicotine, which can put users at risk of nicotine addiction and can make quitting more challenging. For these reasons, using oral nicotine pouches like Zyn is not a recommended way to quit nicotine in any form.

Oral nicotine pouches versus nicotine replacement therapy

Oral nicotine pouches are not the same as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) like nicotine lozenges or gum. NRT includes medications that are approved and regulated by the FDA. Decades of research, as well as a 2020 report from the Surgeon General, confirms that NRT is safe to use (even long-term) and is an effective way to quit tobacco products for good.

Oral nicotine pouches can contain high levels of nicotine, and a study from 2022 found that sales of oral nicotine pouches containing the highest nicotine concentration (8 mg) increased faster than sales of pouches with a lower nicotine concentration (6, 4, or 3 mg), raising concerns about the addictiveness of these products. In addition, a study found that many young people who use oral nicotine pouches also use a different tobacco product, which can increase the risk of nicotine addiction and dependence and makes quitting more challenging. The study, published in Preventive Medicine, found that most young people (73%) who use oral nicotine pouches also smoke cigarettes, and nearly half (49%) vape nicotine. Nicotine in any form is addictive and harmful to developing brains, and using nicotine pouches and other tobacco products concurrently increases the risk of addiction.

The good news is, if you are currently vaping, smoking, or using other tobacco products, there are resources to help you quit. You can also quit Zyn with similar strategies to quitting other nicotine products.

Tips for quitting Zyn or other oral nicotine pouches from EX Program

Quitting oral nicotine pouches is possible using strategies similar to those used to quit other nicotine products. Here are 4 tips from EX Program, including switching to a lower-dose NRT product, extending the time between pouches, and more to get you started.

About EX Program

Most people who smoke or vape want to quit. To help, free tools and resources are available through EX Program, a digital quitting platform by Truth Initiative and Mayo Clinic. EX Program supports people of all ages looking to quit any tobacco or nicotine product through interactive support, personalized quit plans, and the nation’s most established online quitting community. Users can share experiences with other quitters, read advice and tips from Mayo Clinic cessation specialists, and hear from former tobacco users about topics including how to handle nicotine withdrawal

People looking to quit any type of tobacco product can text EXPROGRAM to 88709 to join for free.