In Quebec, the use of nicotine pouches by young people worries health experts

A recent Canadian study reveals that nicotine pouches are rapidly gaining popularity among young people, to the point where they are almost as widespread as traditional cigarettes.[1]According to Dr. Richard E. Bélanger, a pediatrician and professor at Laval University, these products have several characteristics that encourage their adoption: attractive flavors, high nicotine levels, and the absence of combustion, which makes them more socially acceptable. He warns that the health gains among young people achieved through the reduction in smoking in the 1990s and 2000s are being erased.

Widespread and increasing use among young people

The study, conducted among nearly 14,000 students aged 11 to 17 in 33 Quebec schools as part of the COMPASS project, indicates that 13.1% of young people used an e-cigarette in the last month, compared to 3.1% for traditional tobacco cigarettes and 2.6% for nicotine pouches. The use of nicotine pouches increases significantly with age: high school students are three times more likely to use them than those in lower grades.

Among pouch users, 28 % also smoke and 72 % vape. Young people report being able to use them without restrictions, as these products are easy to transport, hide, consume, and share, and produce neither smoke nor aerosol. Dr. Bélanger emphasizes that, despite current regulations, these do not prevent young people from accessing these products: " Even though rules exist, they do not seem to slow down their supply. " he notes.

In Quebec, only pharmacists have been able to sell nicotine pouches since 2024, but several people interviewed by Le Journal in the Quebec City region say they no longer offer them for sale, due to their use by young people.[2].

" We said to ourselves: we'll simply remove them from our displays and we won't get involved in the distribution of this product. ", says Christian Pagé, pharmacist affiliated with Familiprix, who adds that these sachets are sometimes available over the counter, " without prescription ". " How can you be a good guardian of the population when the product is available without a prescription? " he asks.

The same position was taken by another pharmacist, who remained anonymous and this time was affiliated with Jean Coutu: “ There is definitely a strong demand. […] For the past year, we have had at least ten requests per week. " This pharmacist shares a " deep discomfort " since one of the brands of nicotine pouches is marketed by the cigarette manufacturer Imperial Tobacco. " It seems that they have found a way to circumvent, through pharmacists, the decline in smoking among young people. " he denounces.

While a conventional cigarette contains about 1 mg of nicotine, approved pouches sold in pharmacies contain 2 to 4 mg. On the black market, their concentration can reach up to 50 mg, according to the study. Initially presented to help adults quit smoking, these products could, according to Dr. Bélanger, become a gateway to other, more harmful forms of nicotine consumption.

Persistent ignorance of risks, fueled by industry misinformation

The study also highlights a lack of information about the risks associated with nicotine. Nearly a quarter of the young people surveyed (23 %) are unaware that the pouches pose risks to their health, and 16 % are unaware that they are addictive. For the researcher, education and prevention therefore remain essential to limit their use.

Dr. Bélanger points out that these products, which appeared on the market in 2019, are still the subject of few scientific studies, and he calls for stronger regulations. However, some recent research is beginning to show the effects of these products, for example their oral effects in relation to the amount of nicotine absorbed by the gums, suggesting potential impacts on long-term health.

The spokesperson for the Quebec Coalition on Tobacco Control, Flory Doucas, explains that " Nicotine has been completely trivialized, especially on social media. We have influencers, for example, who say it helps them concentrate better. »[3].

Towards a strengthening of regulations?

" The rules are not robust enough ", denounces M.^me Doucas, who believes that the approval process for these products by Health Canada is too fast. It is considered natural health. The process is less exhaustive than for other medications. ".

Federal regulations, amended in August 2024, do not impose a legal age or a mechanism for verifying the age of people wishing to purchase such bags in pharmacies.

Ottawa responded by explaining that the government believed imposing a legal age would not be effective enough to prevent minors from purchasing such products. Cigarette manufacturer Imperial Tobacco estimates that 500 million nicotine pouches are on the black market.

The office of the Quebec Minister of Health says it is concerned about adolescents' attraction to nicotine pouches and, in a statement, assures that it is examining " quickly the situation related to the sale of cessation products to children in certain pharmacies. ".

Other countries, like France, have already chosen to ban these products, considered as an extension of the nicotine addiction epidemic which particularly affects young people.

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[1]Alexis Drapeau-Bordage, Researchers concerned about youth use of nicotine pouches, Le Devoir, published October 4, 2025, consulted October 6, 2025

[2]Jean-Philippe Guilbault, "It's made up for the whole fight against tobacco!": Nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among young Quebecers, QUB, published September 30, 2025, accessed October 6, 2025

[3]Jean-Philippe Guilbault, 'Rules are not robust enough': Calls to tighten regulations around nicotine-containing products, Le Journal de Québec, published October 1, 2025, consulted October 6, 2025

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