What’s All the Ruckus about Zyn?

Guest Author: Pamela DiNapoli, PhD, RN

If you are wondering what to make of the FDAs authorization of oral nicotine pouches (Zyn, On! And Velo), you are not alone. Zyn just received the FDAs approval to market oral nicotine pouches to adults. While we absolutely need to support adults who are addicted to nicotine, find ways to reduce the harm caused by smoking cigarettes, and offer treatment options, it’s less clear what to tell youth about the use of these products.

What we know about oral nicotine pouches and young people:

Whatever form a youth consumes (i.e.; cigarette, vape, Zyn), nicotine is highly addictive and has lifelong consequences on the developing adolescent brain. Many of the popular brands contain high concentrations of nicotine, making addiction more likely and quitting more challenging.

Many youth that use nicotine pouches, also use a different tobacco product like cigarettes or vapes. Again, this dual use makes addiction more likely and quitting more challenging.

The manufactures of oral nicotine pouches target youth in their advertisements suggesting the pouches are safer and offer freedom because they are more discrete than smoking cigarettes or vapes. They also target young people with flavors like fruit and mint and sought-after free merch with their rewards program. Sounds familiar?

Nicotine use in any form is unsafe for youth.

Contrary to marketing efforts, the use of nicotine negatively impacts young people’s mood and memory. Nicotine use can increase feelings of stress, anxiety and depression. These feelings along with withdrawal symptoms, makes it difficult to focus in school while they are trying to learn. Quitting can improve their mental health.

One thing is clear, the claims of being a safer alternative to smoking don’t hold up for youth. Nicotine use in any form is unsafe for youth. Screening all your young patients on their nicotine use and talking with them about when, where and why they use makes a difference. It improves youth mental health.

Resources like My Life, My Quit (MLMQ) are there to support your office interventions. MLMQ helps a young person create a personalized plan that’s right for them and supports them through the process. Directly refer your patients using the online form. MLMQ will take it from there.

Youth Prevention Resources

Check out these additional resources for youth prevention:

The Partnership @drugfreeNH: offers prevention strategies and communication resources. Sign-up for notifications to get the latest information on training opportunities and new resources.

QuitWorks-NH: has on-demand videos and eLearning lessons on preventing youth vaping, effective communication and positive discipline.

Pamela DiNapoli PhD, RN

Pamela DiNapoli PhD, RN is currently the president of the NH School Nurses Association and per diem school nurse in the Manchester School District. Dr. DiNapoli is Associate Professor Emerita at the University of New Hampshire where her research agenda was focused on Adolescent Health Risk Behavior with a focus on health promotion and risk reduction of harmful behavior including smoking and vaping.