Survey Data Shows Nicotine Pouches on the Rise Among Young People

According to recent survey data from the DSM Foundation, a drug education charity, nicotine pouches have become one of the main substances used by 15-18 year olds. The survey, which gathered responses from over 2,100 students, marks the first time nicotine pouches have been highlighted as a named drug.

Nicotine pouches, also known as snus or nicopods, come in a variety of brands and flavors, including Nordic Spirit, Zyn, and Velo. They have gained popularity among young people, with 46% of respondents citing them as a commonly used substance by their peers.

The survey was conducted anonymously among students in Years 11-13 (or equivalent in Scotland) ahead of a workshop delivered by one of the DSM Foundation’s drug education team members. This approach allows the charity to gather valuable insight into a range of topics, including the students’ previous drug education, their interests and concerns, and their perceptions of substance use among their peers.

While vaping remains the most popular substance among young people, with 95% of respondents citing it, nicotine pouches have surpassed cannabis edibles as the fifth most commonly used substance. The top four substances after vaping were alcohol, cigarettes, and cannabis/weed. The data also showed little change in the use of other substances, with the exception of nitrous oxide, which was recently moved to the stricter Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Despite the rising popularity of nicotine pouches, the survey also showed that a third of students deemed their use as “not OK”, even more than cannabis edibles and smoked cannabis. Additionally, over a quarter of respondents believed that nicotine pouch use caused problems for their peers.

This increase in awareness of nicotine pouches has prompted the DSM Foundation to cover the topic in many of their universal drugs education workshops for young people, particularly for this age group. The charity has also developed a factsheet on nicotine pouches and included them in their free materials for schools to use in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE; PSE in Scotland) classes. They also offer resources for parents, caregivers, and school staff.

Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, Director, Founder, and mother of Daniel Spargo-Mabbs, for whom the charity was named, stated, “Our survey is such a valuable tool for our workshop planning, to ensure we are providing as relevant and useful a session for each group of students as possible.” She believes that listening to young people is a vital part of the process of equipping them to make safe decisions about drugs.

Established in 2014, the DSM Foundation aims to provide young people with relevant, age-appropriate, and evidence-based information about drugs to help them make safe choices. Currently, the charity works in almost 750 schools, colleges, and community organizations, providing workshops for students, parents, and caregivers, as well as training for school staff. They also offer a verbatim play, “I Love You Mum, I Promise I Won’t Die”, based on Daniel’s story, and free lesson resources for schools to use in PSHE/PSE classes.

For more information about the DSM Foundation and their work, please visit https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/. Media inquiries can be directed to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.

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