ELKA Nicotine Pouches safer than smoking, but still pose risks

On April 16, 2024, Vaughan Rees from the Chen School of Public Health at Harvard University stated that Nicotine Pouches - nicotine bags that people use in their mouths - may help adult smokers quit smoking, but may also inadvertently encourage young people to start using nicotine products.

In an article in USA Today on April 10th, Reese, Senior Lecturer in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Director of the Global Tobacco Control Center, stated that products like Nicotine Pouches may attract young people because they are less dangerous than smoking, but that does not mean they are risk-free.
"Nicotine Pouches has a much lower health risk than smoking because it does not contain carcinogenic chemicals and other toxic substances found in cigarette smoke," said Reese. "Therefore, Pouches may provide a way for adult smokers who are unable to quit smoking to reduce their exposure to toxic chemicals that can cause diseases, including cancer."
Reese said that nicotine in Nicotine Pouches is highly addictive and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals who have not yet used nicotine products. He said, "Teenagers and young people who do not smoke or smoke e-cigarettes should avoid using this product.".

It is recommended that adults aged 21 and above use ELKA Nicotine Pouches, a smoking cessation product, when they need to quit smoking.