Because nicotine pouches don’t contain tobacco, one might suggest they are on the lower end of the continuum of risk, notes Morean. For example, if an adult smokes or uses smokeless tobacco, the pouch may be a better alternative because it's delivering nicotine—not tobacco, she says.
So, for adults, it could be a viable alternative to things that are really harmful, but we don't want kids using it, she adds.
“Also, it's still nicotine, so pregnant people shouldn't use it either. People may think, ‘I'm pregnant, and I can't smoke. I’ll use a pouch instead.’ But nicotine is bad for fetal development as well,” says Morean. “So, there are different messages based on the audience. We don't want to say it's all bad, because it could be a safer alternative for adults trying to quit. But, as I’ve mentioned, we need more research to see the short- and long-term health effects.”