DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A smokeless and spit-free oral nicotine pouch is taking over the market as the latest trend among young adults.
It’s called ZYN, and it comes in different strengths and flavors. Each can of ZYN contains 15 tobacco-free nicotine pouches.
“It’s a healthier alternative,” says Henry Hammond, who said he uses ZYN multiple times every day.
Where did ZYN come from?
International tobacco giant Swedish Match introduced ZYN in its home market in 2014. Philip Morris bought the company, and ZYN, in 2022.
Intended only for adults 21 and older who already use nicotine, the oral pouch is an alternative to smoking or dipping.
“I thought it was better than any other alternative,” saiz ZYN user Sam Good.
Some members of Gen-Z are using it for different reasons.
“Just for fun, I guess,” said 21-year-old Archie Macinnes, who uses ZYN. “It gives you a little buzz. And then it’s also a nice cool feeling up in your lip.”
Bruce Barcelo, Director of Education and Prevention for Soter Technologies and faculty at the Breathing Association, has seen the whole gamut of tobacco and nicotine products, from vaping backpacks to vapes disguised as highlighters.
“You may not get caught with the product like this, but a product like ZYN, it’s even more discreet,” said Barcelo. “It still has nicotine in it and high levels of nicotine.
“So what we’re seeing is when kids use it — because it has such a high level of nicotine — they get addicted to it really rapidly.”
People can easily find ZYN in most gas stations and convenience stores.
When it comes to marketing nicotine to kids, the federal government is working to regulate it. The FDA has issued warnings to stores selling ZYN to those who are underage.
Is ZYN marketing a return to the days of Camel Bucks?
Part of the incentive for adults who use ZYN is the rewards program.
“There’s something to work towards. If you scan aZYN tin, you get points, and then you can earn prizes if you do it enough,” said Tyler Lennon, whose friends use ZYN. “You can get a sweatshirt. There’s different levels, obviously. So, some people work up to the bigger stuff like the neon sign.”
A TV, iPad, and movie projector are other big ticket rewards you can score after acquiring ZYN points.
“These companies don’t make a lot of money for no reason. They have a strategy. They have a way to go about it,” said Dan Suffoletto, the Public Information Manager for Public Health Dayton Montgomery County. “This product here is designed just to get you to keep using it and using it.”
Experts said using products high in nicotine can cause higher blood pressure, heart issues, and increased risks for heart attacks in some people.
“This is an addictive product. So there’s something about the addiction that can cause, anxiety can cause depression, can cause you to have that dependency on it. Then also, there’s things like potential gum disease from having that under your lip for an extended period of time,” described Suffoletto. “Particularly young people, one of the factors is brain development, because when you’re about 25 years and younger, your brain is still developing. So, the nicotine can interfere with the normal development of your brain.”
Suffoletto said because ZYN has only been around for 10 years, all of the long-term health effects are still unknown.
“Just because something is legal to use, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily healthy to use,” said Suffoletto.
“I think people see it as a safer alternative, you know, to vaping,” admitted Sean Hansen, who has tried ZYN. “I guess we don’t really know the health effects yet.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every 100 high school students last year reported using nicotine pouches in the past 30 days.
2 NEWS reached out to Philip Morris for a statement regarding ZYN. Senior Communications Manager Joshua Townsend responded:
For the nearly 30 million Americans who smoke, Swedish Match is committed to developing products such as ZYN that are scientifically substantiated as a better alternative to continued smoking. Swedish Match goes beyond legal requirements to ensure our marketing targets legal age nicotine users. We do not use social media influencers, and we refuse requests for such partnerships. Manufacturers, regulators, retailers and social media platforms must work together to ensure these products are only used by people 21+, and we believe that we’re doing our part to achieve that objective.
Senior Communications Manager Joshua Townsend with Philip Morris International
ZYN said the best thing for consumers concerned with health effects of smoking or dipping to do is quit.
ZYN is produced in Kentucky and Sweden at Swedish Match factories.
