Concern over use of nicotine pouches among students at schools in Australia

There is a worrying trend emerging in Aussie schools that has teachers concerned.

First it was vapes sweeping across campuses. Now, there’s a smoke-free illegal alternative reportedly on the rise among students, posing a new set of challenges for teachers and parents.

Nicotine pouches, or zyns, are small bags placed in the mouth that can contain up to 16 or 18mg of nicotine – “much more” than a cigarette or vape puff, one expert reveals.

Watch the video above. 

READ MORE: Candid Meghan finally addresses two big rumours about her next move

They look like a small tea bag and can come in different flavours and with sweeteners.

According to AMA New South Wales president Doctor Michael Boning, the difficulty with the pouches is that they’re “incredibly discreet”.

“What we see is it’s the same nicotine addiction and withdrawal that happens for any other nicotine product,” Boning said, weighing in on the alarming trend on Today Extra.

READ MORE: $4 Kmart buy that makes window cleaning easier

“But the second part is, just like vapes, these people weren’t going to use nicotine before a version was created that they could use excessively.”

Boning pointed out that while with vapes, people “could stick it under their pillow”, nicotine pouches can be kept “on the inside of their cheek, when they go to class.”

“That kind of thing is the problem,” he stated.

READ MORE: Martha Stewart’s baffling food confession leaves TV host stunned

Boning said vapes and pouches have made nicotine “so accessible and also so discreet”.

“It’s very different to Mum comes and gives you gives you a sniff and says, ‘Oh you’ve been smoking’, you know, there was none of that associated with either,” he explained.

Expert reveals how food should be organised in the fridge

The expert noted that because, like vapes, they’re “relatively novel products”, the health risks years down the road are not fully known yet. 

However, a concern for young people is they can return to other nicotine products.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.