BC Youth Nicotine Pouch Use Lower Than Vaping: Study
A new study in British Columbia (B.C.) has found that while young people are not using oral nicotine pouches at the same high rates as they are vaping, their usage is still a cause for concern, prompting calls to maintain current sales restrictions. The research, conducted by the McCreary Centre Society, offers one of the province’s first large-scale looks into nicotine pouch use among youth and serves as a key data point in the ongoing debate over how these products should be regulated.
The study surveyed 2,784 young people aged 12 to 19 and found that while 31% had tried vaping and 19% had tried tobacco, a notable 11% had tried nicotine pouches. These small, tobacco-leaf-free pouches, which are placed between the lip and gum to release nicotine orally, come in various flavors and strengths. Annie Smith, executive director of the McCreary Centre Society, a non-profit focused on youth health, stated that this figure is significant. “I don’t think 11 per cent is nothing to worry about, it’s a number to be really aware of,” she said, emphasizing that the younger individuals start using nicotine, the more likely they are to struggle with addiction later in life.
Currently, the sale of nicotine pouches in Canada is restricted to pharmacies, a measure intended to position them as smoking cessation aids for adults. However, this restriction is being challenged. In September, B.C. MP Brad Vis tabled a petition in the House of Commons from small businesses, including convenience stores, who want the ability to sell these products. They argue they have a proven track record of responsibly selling age-restricted items and that the current regulation is overly burdensome.
Annie Smith, however, argues that keeping sales within pharmacies is the correct approach to prevent a repeat of the youth vaping epidemic. “I definitely think keeping them in pharmacies is the way to go,” she said. “I don’t imagine there would be many adults that would complain about the extra safeguards being in place for young people.” The study found that while 27% of youth who used nicotine pouches got them directly from a store, a much larger proportion obtained them through social sources: 46% got them from other teens and 32% from adults. This highlights the challenge of preventing youth access even with retail restrictions.
Smith drew parallels between the marketing of nicotine products and the rise of online sports betting, noting how influencer culture on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat can normalize use. The study also found a distinct link between sports and nicotine pouches, with 40% of young users reporting they used them while playing sports or exercising. This is a concern given the association of oral nicotine products with sports like baseball.
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The core message from the McCreary Centre Society is the importance of learning from the past. “Vaping kind of got ahead of us, smoking rates were coming down… and then vaping kind of sort of took us unawares,” Smith said. She advocates for proactive research and non-confrontational, informational campaigns, similar to the B.C. Ministry of Health’s “A-Z of Vaping” campaign, to educate young people about the ingredients and potential harms of nicotine pouches. By maintaining current regulations and providing clear, factual information, advocates hope to prevent nicotine pouches from becoming the next youth vaping crisis.
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