A new study published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday reveals a significant increase in the number of young children accidentally ingesting nicotine pouches in recent years. The study found that reports of children under 6 years old swallowing nicotine pouches rose from less than 1 per 100,000 in 2020 to over 4 per 100,000 in 2023, marking a 763% increase. These pouches, like the popular brand Zyn, are smoke- and tobacco-free but do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can be fatally toxic to young children.
Researchers analyzed calls to U.S. poison centers from 2020 to 2023, highlighting the growing concern of nicotine pouch ingestion among young children. Dr. Hannah Hays, co-author of the study and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center, emphasized the seriousness of this issue. The study also examined ingestions of various nicotine products, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes, and liquids, revealing a concerning trend of children under 2 years old being most commonly affected.
Although pouch ingestions accounted for a small percentage of the cases studied, they were more likely to result in serious medical outcomes or hospital admissions compared to other nicotine products. Dr. Gary Smith, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s, suggested banning flavored nicotine products to reduce unintentional ingestions among children and discourage teen usage.
Despite the FDA’s authorization of nicotine pouch sales, some health advocates have raised concerns about the appeal of these products to kids. Swedish Match, the manufacturer of Zyn, emphasized the low youth usage of their product and highlighted its child-resistant packaging as a safety feature. Sen. Lindsey Graham has hinted at a potential turning point in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while Trump has urged senators to make significant spending cuts. Additionally, there is mention of a student with a unique talent involving birds.
