What is white snus? What health risks does it pose? – Firstpost

A habit that is worrying health authorities in Sweden where
increasing numbers of teenagers are taking what’s known as “snus” is also concerning football authorities in England where
one-fifth of professional players are regularly indulging because they say it improves their game.

What is white snus?

White snus consists of small, tobacco-free pouches containing nicotine, plant-based fibres and flavourings. These pouches look a like a cross between a tea bag and a tablet of chewing gum, and they’re put between the lip and the gum to give users a burst of nicotine without some of the drawbacks of tobacco.
Nicotine strength varies widely between different white snus products.

Traditional snus, a moist brown tobacco product, is almost exclusive to Sweden. However, the introduction of white snus – also known as nicotine pouches – has led to
rapid global expansion.

The rise in popularity of white snus around the world can be attributed to aggressive social media marketing campaigns where
“Zynfluencers”
are sponsored
to promote white snus in their lifestyle content and the product is advertised
across social media. While marketing for cigarettes and vapes is
strictly regulated in the EU, the rules for white snus are up to the individual countries to decide. Many countries don’t regulate
white snus so consumers – even very young ones – can order the nicotine pouches easily.

It’s not just English male professional footballers who’re fans of white snus. In Sweden, 15 per cent of young women aged 16-29
use white snus daily, while
only 2.5 per cent smoke cigarettes daily in the same age group.

Some
commercials target women by suggesting that white snus offers a discreet “clean” way to feel the benefits of a nicotine hit. They highlight that users report a rush of endorphins that can relieve stress and pain and improve
mood and memory – without the smell of cigarette smoke and the inconvenience of smoking or vaping breaks.

The marketing of white snus often
stresses that they are “tobacco-free” because the pouches do not contain tobacco leaf. But that label can be misleading – the nicotine in these products is usually derived from tobacco leaves.
Some also
confuse tobacco-free with nicotine-free. Both these misconceptions can make consumers
think that the pouches are safe.

Advertisements often emphasise how white snus can be used anywhere and enhance social situations, while offering a variety of flavours from coffee to spearmint and black cherry, and serving as an alternative to cigarettes, vapes and traditional forms of tobacco.

Despite their growing popularity – and
marketing attempts to associate white snus with healthier nicotine use – little is known about the specific
health risks of white snus. But a lack of research into the effects of nicotine pouches does not mean they are safe.

A healthy alternative?

The nicotine pouch was originally developed by a nicotine replacement therapy company in the early 2000s – but they didn’t gain traction until 2016 when the tobacco snus company Swedish Match introduced their product Zyn, which became a
leading nicotine pouch brand in the US. Zyn is now owned by Philip Morris International, one of the world’s largest tobacco companies White snus is
not an approved nicotine replacement therapy, which means that it is not recommended as an aid to quit smoking.

While nicotine-free white snus exists, most products on the market contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive, so many of those who try a nicotine product – no matter which one – will find it hard to stop using it. Nicotine has several effects on the body, including increased heart rate and
activation of the brain’s reward system, which contributes to its appeal.

Young people are
especially sensitive to the addictive properties of nicotine. The wide range of white snus flavours available, often
fruit, menthol or candy, may further lower the threshold for use.

But research suggests that nicotine may also have a negative impact on
brain development. Other potential risks include a negative effects on
cardiovascular and
oral health. But long-term effects specific to white snus remain unclear. Few studies have been conducted, and many of the existing ones have been sponsored by the tobacco industry. There is a need for large, independent, high-quality studies to assess long-term health risks.

With many young people using white snus, the unanswered questions about its health effects become more pressing. Until more research is available, it’s important to stay cautious: “tobacco-free” does not mean risk free.

Alma Larsdotter Zweygberg, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet and
Rosaria Galanti, Professor Emerita, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet

This article is republished from
The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the
original article.