How Many Cigarette Smokers Have Turned To Nicotine Pouches?

Nathan Chilcott

Published Studies

There’s a lot of conflicting advice regarding nicotine pouches. On the one hand, they are said to be highly addictive, and there are concerns about young people using them.

On the other hand, nicotine pouches are tobacco-free. It’s the chemicals produced when burning a tobacco cigarette that have been linked with cancer. Removing the tobacco reduces much of the risk of developing cancer.

With that in mind, it’s little wonder that many cigarette smokers have turned to nicotine pouches.

The Facts

In the battle of cigarettes vs nicotine pouches, it seems clear that pouches have the edge. They are more convenient, can be used anywhere, are cheaper, and don’t come with many of the health risks that cigarettes do.

Of course, there is also an abundance of nicotine pouch flavours, ensuring there is something for everyone.

In fact, many health organisations recognise nicotine pouches as a viable part of any attempt to stop smoking and even to quit nicotine.

"The number of completed studies is limited. However, an NIH report found that 73% of nicotine pouch users have or still are smoking cigarettes.”

Read the NIH report.

More conservative reports show that approximately one-third of pouch users are ex-smokers. They’re the ones using nicotine pouches to replace cigarettes or to help them quit.

What’s Driving The Change?

Those who don’t like the nicotine pouch industry state that pouch manufacturers are pushing pouch use as cigarette sales have been declining year on year for approximately a decade.

However, the truth is that it’s government legislation driving the transition. As governments vow to do something about the health implications of smoking, they have introduced an array of legislations.

That’s things like limiting where people can smoke.

Of course, when you’re addicted to cigarettes, it's difficult to just stop, no matter how impractical the government makes it.

That’s why people are turning to an alternative which satisfies their craving for nicotine. Vaping and e-cigarettes were an attractive alternative. However, as legislation on these items has increased, nicotine pouches have become the logical option.

As a bonus, nicotine pouches come in a wide variety of flavours and there are some great deals to be had.

Continued legislation against cigarettes combined with the lower health risks of nicotine pouches means that there is a strong likelihood that cigarettes will disappear altogether.

Interestingly, a recent report shown in the South China Morning Post expects smoking to be extinct in many parts of the world by 2050.

However, in countries like China and Russia, where there are fewer regulations against smoking, the report predicted that smoking would still be a viable option for at least the next three decades.

Governments should listen to this and focus legislation on smoking. After all, it’s considered much more harmful than nicotine pouches.

The Bottom Line

As long as there is legislation making smoking expensive and inconvenient, there will be a reason for smokers to look for an alternative.

Nicotine pouches are a viable option, and that’s why we can expect to see an increase in the number of smokers switching to nicotine pouches.

• Disclaimer

We make every effort to ensure the information published on our website is accurate and up-to-date. Our blog is provided for information only. It is not intended as medical advice.