A head teacher is warning parents about the dangers of pupils using nicotine pouches.
An increasing number of teens are getting hooked on the portioned pouches filled with white nicotine-containing powder that are placed between the lip and gum.
Derek Allan, rector at Kirkcaldy High School, emailed parents with a warning of the “significant health concerns”.
In his email, he said: “Some kids seem to be taking up the use of little nicotine pouches.
“These are placed inside the cheek or under the top lip, and, as you might expect, there are significant health concerns around this, especially given the addictive characteristics of nicotine.”
The pouches are similar to Snus, a smokeless tobacco popular in Scandinavia.
However, there remain concerns the pouches could cause serious dental problems, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and even nicotine poisoning if taken in excess.
Snus has been illegal to sell in the European Union since 1992, with the exception of Sweden, where it has been popular for decades.
But tobacco-free nicotine pouches are legal for sale in the UK, online or in shops, in the shape of minty or flavoured sticks, pellets and strips – making them more attractive to younger users.b
