An alarming number of young children are accidentally ingesting nicotine pouches, a new study warns.

Researchers analyzed data from poison control centers across the U.S. and found, in children under the age of 6, reports of nicotine pouch ingestions skyrocketed 763% between 2020 and 2023.

Dr. Hannah Hays, co-author and medical director of the Central Ohio Poison Center says, “Nicotine pouches are a serious and growing toxic ingestion hazard among young children.”

The results also show they’re more likely to be associated with serious medical outcomes or hospital admissions compared to other nicotine products.

The researchers investigated numerous nicotine product formulations, including gum and lozenges, e-liquids, granules, tablets and capsules.

Overall, they identified nearly 135,000 nicotine ingestions in young children between 2010 and 2023. Most of them occurred at home. And while the majority caused minor or no effects, there were 39 major medical outcomes and two deaths.

The authors say despite the dramatic rise in nicotine pouch ingestions, the overall rate of nicotine ingestions has declined since 2015 – thanks to tougher state and federal regulations.

But they note the nicotine replacement market is growing and changing and must be monitored.

They recommend parents using nicotine pouches store them away from food, and out of sight—preferably in a locked cabinet, drawer or box, and avoid using them in front of children.

Source: Pediatrics

Author Affiliations: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’ s Hospital, Child Injury Prevention Alliance

Nicotine Pouch Poisonings Soar in Young Children

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