Nicotine pouches such as Zyn are smokeless, tobacco-free and, like vaping products, have become so popular that Big Tobacco companies are expanding production of them to meet demand from consumers seeking safer alternatives to smoking.
But are they really safe? The short answer: The jury is still out.
It may take years before researchers determine how risky nicotine pouches might be. In the meantime, many health experts are concerned that as these products become more popular, particularly among younger consumers, the risks they pose may prove to be greater than currently believed.
Some studies have found nicotine pouches — along with patches, gums, lozenges and other products — are safer alternatives, have fewer harmful chemicals than cigarettes and may help some smokers move away from combustible tobacco. But lower exposure does not mean the products are harmless or proven quitting tools. Some research suggests Zyn and similar products are highly addictive and have been linked to anxiety, heart arrhythmia, certain cancers and other health risks.
“Nicotine pouches are becoming easier to buy, more visible and more socially normalized, especially among young people,” says Sophia Yeung, M.H.A., C.T.T.S., administrative program manager for tobacco cessation and lung cancer screening programs at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte. “Greater access and dual use with cigarettes or e-cigarettes may prolong nicotine dependence, increase exposure to harmful effects and raise concerns about long-term oral health and cancer risk.”
To help you understand the basics, potential risks and uses of nicotine pouches, this article examines:
- The truth about nicotine and tobacco
- Nicotine pouches: The basics
- Nicotine pouch use is rising
- Do nicotine pouches help smokers quit?
- Nicotine pouches and cancer: What’s the risk?
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial consultation or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.
The Truth About Nicotine and Tobacco
Regardless of the uncertainties about health risks from smokeless nicotine products, the links between smoking and cancer are clear and have been known for decades.
Tobacco is a plant whose leaves naturally contain nicotine, a highly addictive chemical that may also be manufactured synthetically in a lab.
Dried tobacco leaves are used to make cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco. Some e-cigarettes and other products also include tobacco, nicotine and additional harmful chemicals, the American Cancer Society notes. Nicotine boosts the release of dopamine, a neurochemical that lights up the pleasure centers in the brain and may also help improve a person’s focus and alertness.
Most nicotine products, including pouches, are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as “tobacco products.”
Nicotine Pouches: The Basics
Nicotine pouches are small candy-sized packets containing nicotine powder placed between the gums and the lip. As they dissolve, nicotine is absorbed into the lining of the mouth and enters the bloodstream.
In 2025, the FDA allowed certain nicotine pouches to be marketed in the United States after finding they may pose fewer risks for serious health conditions than cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products. Importantly, FDA marketing authorization isn’t the same as FDA approval that a nicotine product is safe, risk-free or appropriate for general use. The FDA also warned that these products may be addictive, include other harmful chemicals and may carry serious health risks.
“Nicotine pouches can contain high levels of nicotine, which is highly addictive and can sustain dependence,” says Yeung. “For adults who smoke, completely switching from cigarettes to nicotine pouches may reduce exposure to many harmful chemicals from combustible tobacco, but nicotine pouches arent harmless or risk-free.”
Studies have shown nicotine itself is’nt harmless, particularly for young people and during pregnancy and may affect the developing brain and cardiovascular system, she notes.
“For people diagnosed with cancer or undergoing treatment, nicotine use should be discussed with the oncology and tobacco cessation teams,” she adds, “because research has raised concerns about possible effects of nicotine on tumor biology and treatment response, while researchers are still learning more about the long-term effects.”
In the United States, nicotine pouches typically contain between 1.5 and 12 milligrams of nicotine. But because they don’t contain tobacco, theyre generally viewed as safer than smoking cigarettes, using smokeless tobacco or vaping. Even so, research shows that a pouch with 6 milligrams of nicotine delivers more nicotine to the blood after 30 minutes than smoking just one cigarette.
Nicotine Pouch Use is Rising
Most people who use nicotine pouches are adults over 25, but studies have found their use is rising dramatically — including use by teens and young adults. The FDA’s 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that while overall tobacco use has declined since 2022 among younger Americans, nicotine pouches are the second most used tobacco product among high school students — with 1.7% (460,000) reporting current use of nicotine pouches.
Researchers determined e-cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among younger consumers (with 5.2% using them), followed by cigarettes (1.4%), cigars (1.1%) and smokeless tobacco products (0.9%).
One reason for the popularity of nicotine pouches among younger Americans: Many products are flavored with mint, fruit and other ingredients — with more than 9 in 10 users favoring them.
Current and former tobacco users are most likely to use pouches, with researchers finding higher usage among males and non-Hispanic White people.
Big Tobacco companies have taken notice of the growing consumer demand for pouches and have expanded production of such products to offset the massive decline in cigarette sales. Pouch sales are projected to increase nearly 25% to more than $40 billion worldwide by 2033 and an estimated $9 billion in 2026, according to an analysis by Grand View Research, an outfit that tracks consumer markets.
That commercial momentum has raised concern among public health experts because increased availability and promotion may make nicotine use seem normal, especially among young people, and create confusion about whether these products are safe or proven to help people quit.
Do Nicotine Pouches Help Smokers Quit?
The distinction matters: FDA marketing authorization may allow certain nicotine products to be sold with specific claims, but it doesn’t mean they’re safe, risk-free or appropriate for general use. A product may expose users to fewer toxic agents and reduce exposure to some toxic chemicals compared with cigarettes while still keeping users dependent on nicotine. Public health experts therefore say harm reduction isn’t the same as evidence-based smoking cessation.
Though nicotine pouches haven’t been formally approved as smoking-cessation products, manufacturers, some researchers and current and former smokers have claimed they help some tobacco users kick the habit.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the United States health secretary, has described nicotine patches as “probably the safest way to consume nicotine” in media reports.
In May 2026, the FDA issued new guidance relaxing regulations on nicotine pouches and vapes. A month later, the agency announced that it would allow some products from Zyn — produced by Swedish Match, a Philip Morris International subsidiary — to be marketed as having a lower risk for developing some cancers and diseases than cigarettes pose.
Zyn dominates the pouch market, but other tobacco companies are also tapping into it:
- Reynolds American, a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, the company known for Camel cigarettes, also sells nicotine pouches marketed under the name Velo.
- Altria, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, is producing the brands called on! and on! PLUS and won FDA approval in 2025 for additional pouch products under a new streamlined program.
- Swisher, known for Swisher Sweets cigars, recently announced a $135 million expansion to its Florida factory to boost production of nicotine and caffeine pouches.
- The Swedish firm WiJo is also opening its first pouch plant in North America, in Lexington, South Carolina.
In light of such developments, the American Lung Association has sounded alarms about addiction risks posed by pouch use. The World Health Organization has expressed similar concerns, urging stricter regulation of them. France has gone so far as to outlaw nicotine pouches.
But Yeung notes that the FDA hasn’t authorized nicotine pouches to be used as smoking-cessation products: “Nicotine pouches should not be confused with FDA-approved smoking-cessation medications. Lower-risk marketing is not the same as proof that a product helps people quit.”
Nicotine Pouches and Cancer: What’s the Risk?
Because nicotine pouches are so new to the market, research about their potential health risks, including links to cancer, is limited. Long-term studies will be important indicators of the potential health risks, but experts warn that the effects on younger consumers may not be known until they’ve been used for years.
“Nicotine pouches can also cause local oral effects, including irritation, soreness, gingival changes and changes in the oral tissue where the pouch is placed,” Yeung says. “Their long-term effects on oral health and cancer risk remain uncertain because long-term evidence is still limited.”
Still, what’s certain is that nicotine has a negative impact on oral and dental health, and some research suggests it may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk and cancer risk. Nicotine pouches could also act as a gateway to smoking or using other tobacco products with known links to cancer.
“Nicotine pouches are designed to deliver nicotine and can perpetuate addiction,” Yeung notes. “FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy is different: It’s rigorously studied, provides controlled nicotine without exposure to cigarette smoke and is specifically designed to reduce withdrawal and help people quit tobacco — especially when combined with counseling.”
Aside from potentially raising cancer risk, nicotine in any form may cause:
- Gum irritation and recession
- Tooth decay and cavities
- Dry or sore mouth
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Greater risk for developing heart disease and stroke
- Damage to blood vessels
- Nausea, headaches, dizziness, hiccups, upset stomach, depression and anxiety
The big picture? “For people who do not currently use nicotine or tobacco, the message is simple: Don’t start,” Yeung says. “For those who use tobacco and want to quit, ask about FDA-approved treatment and counseling rather than assuming nicotine pouches are a proven quitting tool.”
Ready to Quit or Make a Change?
City of Hope’s Tobacco Cessation Support Group offers practical strategies, encouragement and support for managing cravings and breaking tobacco-use habits. The program is free for City of Hope patients and open to members of the community. Click here to register or learn more or connect with the program here: City of Hope Tobacco Cessation Program.
If you or a loved one is concerned about possible signs or symptoms of cancer and would like an initial consultation or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at 877-460-4673.