Nicotine Pouches May Lower Teen Vaping Risk: Study

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Nicotine Pouch Teen Vaping Study

USC study in Pediatrics finds teen use of nicotine pouches linked to lower likelihood of continued vaping and reduced vaping frequency.

Adolescent use of nicotine pouches is associated with a lower likelihood of continued e-cigarette use, according to a new study published online May 19 in the journal Pediatrics. Researchers from the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles examined data from a prospective cohort of Southern California adolescents to explore the relationship between oral nicotine product (ONP) use and subsequent vaping behaviors.

The study, led by Alyssa F. Harlow, Ph.D., M.P.H., utilized data from 703 individuals (mean age 16) across six semiannual waves from 2021 to 2024. Participants had all used e-cigarettes in the six months prior to waves 1 to 5. The researchers found that past six-month use of any ONP, specifically nicotine pouches, and other ONPs was linked to a reduced likelihood of vaping persistence six months later (risk ratios of 0.75, 0.43, and 0.72, respectively).

Furthermore, nicotine pouch use was inversely associated with the frequency of vaping in the past 30 days at follow-up (incidence rate ratio of 0.43). This inverse association between nicotine pouch use and vaping persistence held even in a secondary analysis focusing on more recent (past 30-day) ONP and e-cigarette use.

The authors conclude, “We provide initial evidence that youth ONP use may not contribute to increased vaping.” They recommend that future studies continue to monitor the impact of ONP use on youth tobacco behaviors, including their potential appeal to tobacco-naïve youth and whether they might serve as a substitute or complement to other tobacco use.

Matthew Ma
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