As more people become conscious of their health, more individuals are also quitting smoking. For this reason, there has been an increase in the popularity of smoking cessation products. For instance, our previous article suggested trying quit-smoking medicines, which contain varenicline. Evidence has proven that this helps decrease cigarette dependency. However, most quit-smoking medications require a prescription from a healthcare provider upon purchase.
This is where nicotine replacement treatments like nicotine pouches are useful because they’re a much more accessible smoking cessation option. In fact, the accessibility of such nicotine replacement products has seen massive growth. Note that the overall sales of nicotine pouches in the US significantly increased from 126.06 million units in 2019 to 808.14 million units in 2022 alone. This proves that nicotine pouches are slowly but steadily being recognized as possible alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
So, what exactly are nicotine pouches, and what makes them so popular?
What Are Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine pouches are smokeless oral nicotine alternatives that resemble the well-known tobacco product from Sweden. But unlike this product, nicotine pouches don’t contain any tobacco leaves and are mostly made with synthetic nicotine. They’re designed to be placed in the mouth, specifically underneath your top lip, pressed against your teeth and gums. You can leave them in your mouth for up to 60 minutes until the nicotine slowly seeps into your bloodstream.
Besides being tobacco-free, what makes nicotine pouches preferable to cigarettes is the flexibility of choice. The nicotine pouches demonstrate how they come in different strengths, in this case ranging from 3mg to 6mg, as well as unique flavors like wintergreen, mango, cinnamon, and honey lemon. This allows you to have a personalized nicotine experience, making your journey toward smoking cessation easy and enjoyable.
Additionally, they are sugar-free and made with clean ingredients. Nicotine pouches also offer a hygienic nicotine experience since they don’t cause bad breath and will not leave a stain on your teeth, even after using them. This makes pouches a great nicotine alternative as you transition to a tobacco-free lifestyle.
Are They Effective To Quit Smoking?
Yes, they are. As a matter of fact, a study comparing heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches revealed that some nicotine pouch could deliver nicotine into your bloodstream just as quickly and to a similar extent as other existing smokeless products with no significant unfavorable effects. They also found that an older type of nicotine pouch that are even more effective at reducing cravings than most nicotine substitutes like gums.
Another study by Sudhanshu Patwardhan and Karl Fagerström also expressed the same results. They shared that even if nicotine pouches have lower nicotine content, they can still deliver nicotine quickly and in a similar concentration compared to existing smokeless products such as snus. Moreover, their lower nicotine levels don’t prevent them from being effective alternatives to cigarettes. The researchers explained that nicotine pouches contain just the right amount of nicotine to help smokers overcome their cravings for cigarettes. With this, they concluded that nicotine pouches are similarly effective or better than nicotine replacement treatment products in both reducing withdrawal symptoms and assisting smokers in lessening or stopping their combustible tobacco use.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for an accessible, convenient, and effective nicotine alternative to help you quit smoking, nicotine pouches can offer you all these benefits. With the many strengths and flavors that these nicotine pouches come in, they'll surely make your smoking cessation goal achievable and less stressful.
