Nicotine Pouch Use Has Tripled Among U.S. Tobacco Users, New Study Finds

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds

Nicotine pouch use among American adults who already use tobacco more than tripled in three years, from about 3 in 100 in 2021 to roughly 1 in 10 in 2024, according to a new national survey study. Nearly a third of them have tried a pouch at least once, almost double the 2021 share of about 16%.

Nicotine pouches are small packets that sit between the lip and gum, sold as tobacco-free products. They reached the US market in 2016, and sales climbed from 327 million units in 2021 to 1,046 million in 2024. They are marketed as healthier than traditional tobacco products, but the researchers point out that independent evidence on their health effects is limited, and that much of the research showing lower toxicity than cigarettes came from the tobacco industry.

Marketing and social media may also be playing a role in the growing popularity, particularly among younger people. A 2026 analysis of 665 TikTok posts about ZYN, a popular brand, found that most were positive toward the product, many used humor or showed it in use, and they often featured people under 30.