PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Young children are being poisoned by nicotine at an alarming rate, and a new study Published this week shows that nicotine pouches, not vapes, are the latest concern.
This new study found that nicotine pouch ingestions increased by more than 760% from 2020 to 2023 in children ages six and younger. When compared to other nicotine products, pouches are about two times more likely to lead to hospitalization.
Popular brands like ZYN offer a variety of nicotine pouch flavors, and unlike cigarettes and vapes, there's no smoke. However, it's not the same as chewing tobacco; there's no need to spit.
It's a powder that dissolves in the user's mouth, tucked between their lip and gum, allowing nicotine to be absorbed into their bloodstream.
All of that makes it harder for parents to notice and easier for kids to go unnoticed.
"One of our biggest concerns is, of course, young children getting into them," said Maureen Roland, director of Banner Poison & Drug Information Center .
Roland said the number of calls they have received this year regarding nicotine pouch poisonings in children has doubled.
"So, we've already reached the same number of exposures that we had last year and we're only halfway through the year," said Roland.
According to the CDC, nicotine pouches First entered the U.S. market in 2016, and since then, demand has skyrocketed to more than 800 million sales annually. The makers of ZYN tell Arizona’s Family that their product has been sold in the U.S. since 2014.
A national survey in 2024 found that nicotine pouches are the second most commonly used tobacco product among teens, behind e-cigs.
We've seen this throughout history when we have these newer products coming out, but it's still very dangerous," said Roland. "It is highly toxic, especially when ingested and it doesn't take too much. It can be fatal.
Researchers analyzed more than a decade of data for this study, and two kids died from nicotine poisoning, although those deaths were attributed to ingesting liquid nicotine.
A spokesperson for ZYN gave the following statement to Arizona’s Family:
The latest data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control show that youth use remains low . ZYN is the only nicotine pouch authorized approved by the FDA as appropriate to protect public health. In reaching that conclusion, the agency noted that ZYN's packaging is designed to be child-resistant. We welcome the opportunity to meet with these researchers and educate them on the strong measures Swedish Match takes to prevent underage use.
Locally, the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center says the number of hospital admissions was seven children between 2019-2022. It increased to 45 children between 2022-2025.
Roland said it's important to keep these products away from children and not let them see you use them because they often imitate behaviors.
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