Nicotine pouches that are hard to spot have become popular among teenagers, risking an “epidemic” in schools soon. 

While these pouches first developed in the early 2000s and have remained popular in Scandinavian countries, they have seen an explosion in use amongst underage teenagers. 

The small pouches are placed inside a person’s mouth between their lip and gum, allowing nicotine to enter the bloodstream via the gums. 

Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principal, said right now it is hard to quantify the extent of the problem. 

“This time last year I would have said we had a vaping epidemic,” he told Lunchtime Live. “The students have a nicotine addiction that must be met. 

“It's impossible to get statistics, it’s impossible to know how many students are 

“We know students are taking them, but we don’t know how many students or which students.” 

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said she was first told about nicotine pouches by a teenager who said they have become popular in schools because teachers cannot notice them. 

“It looks like a piece of gum,” she said. “They’re really discreet and hard to see when they’re in. 

“Many parents, if they came across this, wouldn’t even know what it is. 

“They’re really similar to vapes – marketed towards a younger population, all these really colourful flavours, packaged really nice and incredibly addictive.” 

Series of nicotine pouches sold in a shop. Image: Jeppe Gustafsson / Alamy Stock Photo

It feels to Deputy Whitmore that nearly as soon as the Government regulated vaping, young people found a new fix. 

Much like vaping started in Ireland, there are currently no regulations for the sale of nicotine pouches. 

Deputy Whitmore said the pouches are available in all corner shops, having bought one herself this afternoon. 

“I did ask how old you have to be to buy them,” she said. “And they did say 18. 

“But I know a lot of teenagers who are buying them.” 

Regulating nicotine pouches

Mr Crone said the major concern about a lack of regulation is the upcoming summer months. 

“We're worried it will explode even more over the summer,” he said. 

“Schools won’t have access to the student to talk it out and talk to their parents.” 

Deputy Whitmore previously expressed her concerns to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in January and raised it with Taoiseach Simon Harris last week. 

According to her, the Taoiseach shared her concern for the new trend and said he would share his concerns with Mr Donnelly.

Nicotine pouches’ labelling state it is for people over 18 only but there is no legislation to enforce this yet. 

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