Health Canada is cracking down on access to trendy nicotine products, and a Toronto health expert shares insight on the dangerous risks that they can have on young minds.
There are growing concerns surrounding the increasing popularity of emerging products defined as Nicotine Replacement Therapies (NRTs), the government agency said in an Aug. 22 news release, which is leading to recreational use by people who do not smoke, and, in particular, youth under 18 years of age. The new product is casually referred to as nicotine pouches, an oral gum or lozenge containing various flavourings that is often packaged in colourful, mint-like containers.
Through a Ministerial Order, the Federal Minister of Health Mark Holland has since announced several new measures for the distribution of NRTs, with a focus on reducing the appeal of and limiting access to the overall use of these products by young people. There is also an aim to restrict access to adults only, especially those who use the products to assist in quitting smoking.
Some of these newly implemented measures will prohibit advertising that could be enticing for youth, require NRTs to be sold behind-the-counter by pharmacies, ban flavours other than mint or menthol as well as ensure the front of the package has a nicotine addiction warning and a clear indication of the purpose of the smoking cessation aid.
“By prohibiting advertising, packaging, and flavours of nicotine replacement therapies that could be appealing to youth, we’re stopping dependency before it starts,” the minister posted on X.
Toronto Metropolitan University Associate Professor and expert in health and addiction Sarah Dermody says nicotine intensity can vary from product-to-product, where combustible items such as cigars and cigarettes may be considered high-risk, while NRTs would generally be thought of as low-risk. That being said, she says low-risk products are still not risk free, and warns about the potential for youth developing nicotine addictions which could eventually be a gateway to more harmful substances.
“Maybe they’ll start using pouches because they have access to them, but then they’ll turn cigarettes down the road,” Dermody explained to Now Toronto on Wednesday. “Many people like one nicotine product, and then they ultimately begin using a variety of products.”
She says exposure to the powerfully addictive substance in youth can affect brain development, which could also be a concern for putting them at risk of mental health conditions. Health Canada also reiterates this point on its website, stating that the negative effects of nicotine can include harming the part of the brain that controls mood, learning, and attention.
Dermody also notes the often bright eye-catching packaging on NRTs paired with tempting flavours, such as berry frost or tropic breeze, helps companies reel in youth who want to try all of the trendy products. She says policies against this are already in place for items like cigarettes, but there were no explicit regulations for nicotine pouches prior.
She believes that Health Canada’s new measures will be “helpful,” and will assist in keeping the products out of the hands of young people.
“I think one thing that happens when you produce these products and they’re not heavily regulated, people don’t have it at the top of their minds – that this is a substance that can have a health impact for you down the road,” Dermody said.
“By regulating packaging, flavouring and advertising, it can be really impactful in making them less appealing to youth and will help reduce the use of these products.”
