Nicotine Pouch Use Among Young Australians Sparks Concern

Experts express their concern after a recent survey revealed notable nicotine pouch use amongst young Australians amid the current vape crackdown.

Illustration picture shows nicotine pouches on sale at a newspaper shop in Brussels, on Jan. 25, 2023. JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

Concerns around nicotine pouch use among young Australians have been raised after a recent survey of Australians aged 16 to 39 years old found that 26 percent had used pouches before.

Nicotine pouches are small prefilled bags of nicotine that are placed between the lip and gum to dissolve and absorb into the bloodstream. The pouches are illegal to buy or sell without a prescription.