Nicotine pouches: they look like candy but they're harmful

France has banned their sale after protests from anti-smoking groups. They don't contain tobacco, but they are addictive and damage the gums and oral mucosa.

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Roberto P., a 17-year-old high school student, arrived at the Emergency Room of the Morgagni Pierantoni hospital in Forlì with headache, dizziness, repeated episodes of vomiting, palpitations: he had recently taken nicotine sachets (also known as nicotine pouches)  during recess at school. Unfortunately, Roberto's case is not an isolated one: according to data from the ESPAD®Italia 2024 project, which monitors the consumption of psychoactive substances between 15 and 19 years old, almost 170.000 Italian students have tried at least once pouches, and of these, over 130.000 have taken them in the last year and 70.000 in the last month alone. Among 19-year-old males, for example, over 10% have tried them, 8% have used them in the past year, and more than 5% in the past month. A boom, with numbers that continue to grow month after month. 

The nicotine pouches are presented in a very attractive way, as if they were sweets, Because they're small, colorful, and fragrant. A cynical marketing campaign, tailored to a target of very young consumers, labels them as "easy to consume, anywhere, anytime." Just like candy or chewing gum, nicotine pouches are apparently harmless, since they contain no tobacco, only nicotine, in the form of salts, flavorings, and other substances.

And here the problems begin. Despite not having the combustion foreseen by the cigarettes (The nicotine pouches are placed under the gum or under the tongue), nicotine pouches represent a waste of health for children. And, as in the case of electronic cigarettes, there is no longer any doubt about the damage they can cause. Donatella Barus, director of the magazine of the Umberto Veronesi Foundation, writes, citing some scientific studiesNicotine is a psychoactive substance that affects the nervous system, increases blood pressure, accelerates the heart rate, and is addictive. Continued use, especially at a young age, can increase the risk of developing multiple addictions and has negative effects on brain development.

Furthermore, dental associations report the problems caused by nicotine sachets for the gums and oral mucosa: periodontal lesions and alterations in the bacterial flora in the area. The dangers, and the continuous complaints from anti-smoking associations, have prompted the French government to ban the sale of nicotine sachets starting in March 2026. And in Italy? While all is silent, the nicotine pouches They are easily found in tobacconists, just like sweets and chewing gum, and online. The only restriction is age, which is easily circumvented if purchases are made on specialized websites selling products related to the tobacco industry. smoke: you must be 18 years of age or older, just like with any tobacco product.

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