For the first time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nicotine pouches to overcome addiction through Zyn pouches. Zyn is a brand of nicotine pouches that are dissolved in the mouth. Because they allow nicotine to enter the bloodstream, they’ve never been authorized for use in the past. Yet, Zyn pouches have gained popularity over the last 10 years as an alternative to cigarettes and vapes.
Essentially, the decision to approve Zyn pouches doesn’t mark them as a safe product. Rather, they are believed to be less harmful than other nicotine products like cigarettes and vapes. With this in mind, Zyn pouches can be useful for weaning off of nicotine. Yet, they should be used wisely and with awareness of the potential risks. Let’s deep dive into Zyn nicotine pouches to discuss how to best utilize them.
What Are Zyn Pouches?
Zyn pouches are nicotine pouches made by the Swedish Match Company and marketed towards individuals who are trying to quit their nicotine addiction. Regardless of whether one is hooked on cigarettes, cigars, or vapes, Zyn pouches can be beneficial in helping them reduce dependency. So far, 20 Zyn nicotine pouch products have been approved by the FDA. This is largely because Zyn products have a lower risk of cancer, with less harmful toxins than other nicotine products.
Zyn pouches are made from plant fibers, with nicotine extracted from tobacco leaves yet free from tobacco. Additionally, Zyn uses food-grade ingredients and eliminates other harmful toxins found in competitors of nicotine. You can purchase Zyn pouches with either 3 or 6 milligrams of nicotine per pouch. Further, they come in a variety of flavor pouches, including peppermint, citrus, and coffee.
What Is Nicotine?
Nicotine is a chemical compound found in tobacco plants. Yet, it can also be created in a lab. Nicotine is a stimulant that causes the brain to adapt over continued use. Thus, nicotine is highly addictive and habit-forming. It produces a dopamine response in the brain so that using nicotine products feels relaxing, calming, and even euphoric. Similar to other drug addictions, once you’re addicted to nicotine, you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to quit.
Is Nicotine Dangerous?
Nicotine itself is dangerous because of how highly addictive it is. Once you’re dependent, it modifies your brain to require more in order to function normally. However, the most dangerous part of a nicotine addiction is the sources where you receive your nicotine. Alarmingly, many nicotine products, like cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco, are linked to cancer. The smoke itself contains cancer-causing carcinogens, and additional flavors and other additives increase the risk. Tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, chewable tobacco, and vapes contain thousands of harmful toxins that increase your chances of developing cancer. For example, these include:
- Nickel
- Arsenic
- Lead
- Tobacco-specific nitrosamines
- Formaldehyde
- Radioactive elements
Even with casual nicotine use, such as casual smoking, nicotine can stay in your system anywhere from 1-10 days later. If you’re worried about your loved one’s nicotine addiction, you can help them find treatment through an empathetic intervention.
How Do Zyn Pouches Work?
Zyn pouches can help individuals overcome their addiction to other nicotine products like cigarettes and e-cigarettes. They work by allowing nicotine to absorb into your bloodstream through the mouth’s soft tissue between the gums and lips.
Is Using Zyn Healthier Than Smoking or Vaping?
According to the FDA’s latest findings, Zyn is a safer method of receiving nicotine than alternative, tobacco-based products. This is because Zyn pouches do not contain many of the harmful and cancer-causing ingredients in tobacco products and vapes. Zyn pouches’ ingredient lists include powdered nicotine, sweeteners, flavors, food-grade fillers and additives, and the stabilizer hydroxypropyl cellulose. Although more research continues to be done, Zyn pouches are so far more condoned than alternative nicotine products.
Can Nicotine Pouches Help Me Quit Vaping or Smoking?
Zyn nicotine pouches come in two different levels of nicotine per pouch. If you want to use Zyn to help you quit, be careful, you don’t raise your tolerance. To elaborate, using nicotine pouches can actually backfire if you end up taking more nicotine than you were before. However, if done strategically and carefully, you can use nicotine pouches to help you wean yourself off of nicotine products.
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Speak With Our Admissions TeamHow to Quit Vaping or Smoking with Nicotine Pouches
Nicotine pouches like Zyn pouches are short-term solutions to help individuals quit using tobacco products without experiencing intense nicotine withdrawal. However, note that the long-term effects of Zyn pouch use are not known, so they should only be used as a temporary alternative. However, you can use Zyn to quit vaping or smoking by going at a slow, manageable pace.
Educate Yourself on How the Pouches Work
In order to quit tobacco products, be prepared to face some withdrawal symptoms during the process. Zyn pouches work by releasing nicotine into your bloodstream via the mouth. Thus, you can cut back on tobacco products by allowing yourself a predetermined amount of nicotine pouches per day.
Set a Timeline for Your Quit Date
It’s important to set a concrete goal for when you will be fully free from tobacco products. At that point, you’ll be fully reliant on Zyn pouches instead, so also set a stop date for nicotine as a whole. As you get closer to your quitting date, reduce the amount of nicotine you ingest each day or week. As a rule, holding yourself accountable makes it easier for you to stick to your goal. So, tell your support system, write it down, and make it official in your mind.
Use a Gradual Stepdown Approach
As mentioned, you will want to take a gradual step-down approach by reducing your nicotine consumption over time. Quitting cold turkey is not recommended because your nicotine withdrawal symptoms will be intense and distracting. Based on your determined quit date, reduce your nicotine levels so your body adjusts. You can do this by starting with higher-strength Zyn pouches and stepping down to lower-strength ones.
How Long Does It Take to Quit Nicotine Pouches?
When considering how to quit Zyn, you’re probably wondering what a reasonable timeline is to fully wean yourself off nicotine. Overall, this depends on each individual person. What is a manageable pace for you that won’t lead to the temptation to fall back into smoking or vaping? Consider your lifestyle, your routine for the next few months, and any anticipated hardships you should be aware of. As noted, having a strong support system while quitting nicotine will significantly help you!
What Are the Dangers of Zyn Pouches?
A big question since the FDA’s announcement about Zyn pouches is Whether nicotine pouches are safe. While the FDA approves Zyn nicotine pouches as a safer alternative to other tobacco-based products, a lot is still unknown. For example, Zyn pouches haven’t been studied for long-term side effects. Keep this in mind when using nicotine pouches and use them as a short-term tool to wean off smoking. Here are some of the concerns about Zyn pouches and their popularity.
Flavors that Target Young People
Zyn pouches come in many enticing flavors that capture the attention of non-smokers and adolescents. Although fun flavors make it easier to quit smoking, they also draw young people in and cause nicotine addiction.
Gateway for other Tobacco Products
To continue, Zyn pouches can act as the gateway product to using other nicotine products, like cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and cigars. Zyn pouches have risen in popularity through social media. With the colorful packaging and fun flavors, people who don’t smoke may become hooked on nicotine for the first time through Zyn.
Oral Health Concerns
Further, because Zyn pouches are dissolved in the mouth, they can cause poor oral health. Some potential nicotine pouch side effects are:
- Periodontal disease (like gingivitis and periodontitis)
- Gum recession
- Inflammation of the mouth
- Bone loss
Research shows the flavors in nicotine pouches may pose further risks to your oral health. This is in addition to the damage caused by nicotine in the mouth.
Nicotine’s Effect on the Brain
Undeniably, nicotine is an addictive stimulant. With the high levels of nicotine in Zyn pouches, Zyn products are addictive as well. Yet, Zyn rewards the brain by releasing dopamine and feelings of pleasure. Nicotine addiction stems from the repetitive triggering of the reward system until you require more nicotine to get the initial effect. Notably, nicotine directly impacts the brain, which is especially dangerous for young people whose brains are still developing. Ingesting nicotine can cause memory issues, poor attention, and reckless behavior.
Lack of Research
Unfortunately, there is currently not enough research to know all the potential long-term risks of Zyn pouches. Thus, only use Zyn pouches temporarily to wean off tobacco products and make a plan to quit Zyn afterward.
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Check Your CoverageTips for Ending Nicotine Addiction
Struggling with a nicotine addiction is really difficult, but you’re not alone. When wondering the best way to quit Zyn, you can work on weaning yourself off nicotine over time. Or you can turn to a rehabilitation center to support and assist you through the process of quitting nicotine products. Zyn pouches are one temporary fix for nicotine addiction, but sometimes people require more help. At Aliya, we can help you break free from your addiction. If you’re worried about the cost of treatment, ask us about using your insurance for rehab.
Above all, know that freedom from nicotine addiction is possible and within reach!
- Emerging Oral Nicotine Products and Periodontal Diseases – PMC
- FDA Authorizes Marketing of 20 ZYN Nicotine Pouch Products after Extensive Scientific Review | FDA
- Harmful Chemicals in Tobacco Products | American Cancer Society
- Health Effects of Vaping | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC
- Nicotine Is Why Tobacco Products Are Addictive | FDA
- The New Nicotine Pouch Category: A Tobacco Harm Reduction Tool? – PMC
