- Concerns Over Adolescents Turning to Nicotine Powders
- Legal Status of Nicotine Powders in the UK
- Risks Associated with Nicotine Powders for Minors
Ministers have been cautioned that after a crackdown on adolescent vaping, children may switch to nicotine powders that are currently legal for them to purchase.
The body absorbs nicotine granules from gum-sized pouches when they are dissolved in the mouth.
Since they are not classified as tobacco products in the United Kingdom, they are presently legal to sell to minors.
Similarly to some controversial vape products, some brands offer child-friendly flavors such as “gummy bear” or “strawberry vanilla candy” in packaging that is brightly colored and imprinted with cartoon characters.
Some online retailers say their products are a ‘healthier’ alternative to vaping and more inconspicuous.
Today, experts and anti-smoking groups urged the government to close the loophole allowing the sale of tobacco products to minors.
They warned that banning e-cigarettes may fail to wean youngsters off nicotine if other sources remain available.
Nicotine granules, originally a smoking cessation aid, are now a strong recreational substance.
MailOnline discovered some candy flavors of the powders being sold online that contained nearly 33mg of nicotine per pouch.
A single cigarette contains between 8 and 20 milligrams of nicotine.
Also Minors can buy a lot of tobacco-flavored nicotine powder for £4.50 in tubs with 20 pouches.
Alice Wiseman, policy lead for addiction at the Association of Directors of Public Health, told The Times, “The sale of these extremely dangerous and addictive nicotine pods to children and adolescents is completely unacceptable.
There are currently no regulations prohibiting the sale of these products to individuals under the age of eighteen, leaving them vulnerable to the targeted marketing used to lure them into purchasing and utilizing such a harmful product.
To protect children and adolescents, the government must enact stricter regulations prohibiting the marketing of nicotine pods and other similarly hazardous products as appealing to those under the age of 18.
She also advocated for additional research into the long-term health effects of nicotine powder use.
As the government prepares to ban disposable e-cigarettes to curb nicotine addiction among children. There are concerns that adolescents will turn to alternative nicotine sources.
The UK bans the selling of e-cigarettes to minors, but more than 10% of 11- to 17-year-olds have tried vaping.
Many websites selling the granules already promote their advantages over vaporizers.
