Nicotine sachets that “are not without risk”

2023-11-21 05:58:24

Nicotine sachets, which are popular with young people in Europe and the United States, can be sold in Quebec under the supervision of a pharmacist. These small packages, which slip between the upper lip and the gum, are however “not without risk”.

Published at 12:58 a.m.

Updated at 6:00 a.m.

What is this new product?

These are sachets of synthetic nicotine, often mixed with perfumes. “It’s not tobacco, it’s more of a derivative product. It’s a sachet that we leave to dissolve against the lip and gums,” explains Dr.^r Nicholas Chadi, researcher specializing in addiction at CHU Sainte-Justine.

Imperial Tobacco Canada’s ZONNIC pouches were approved in October by Health Canada. The use of this product, presented as a way to quit smoking, is already widespread among young people in Europe and the United States. “I have colleagues in the United States who are talking to me about it, so it’s something that is already present in North America. Then, we know that the trends that are present in the United States are growing quickly in Canada. This was the case with vaping,” says the D^r Chad.

Where can you buy them?

ZONNIC sachets are approved as a natural health product. In the majority of Canadian provinces, these nicotine sachets are therefore available in convenience stores, grocery stores, gas stations, specialty stores and pharmacies.

For less than fifteen dollars, The Press was able to obtain a box of ZONNIC containing 24 sachets of nicotine on Monday at Zesty Market, a convenience store located in downtown Ottawa. The seller confirmed that the product has been in high demand since it hit shelves a month ago.

Quebec, however, stands apart. These products may only be sold in pharmacies under the Regulation respecting the conditions and terms of sale of medicines.

“It can be sold in a section of the pharmacy that is accessible to the public, but this section must be under the control and supervision of a pharmacist,” indicates the general director of the Quebec Association of Pharmacy Distributors, Hugues Mousseau. . He specifies that pharmacy wholesalers in Quebec do not yet have this product.

The D^r Chadi, however, expects these sachets to circulate widely among the population. “We know that vaping products circulate easily, even if they are not for sale to minors. So, it’s definitely something to watch out for,” he emphasizes.

PHOTO FROM ZONNIC WEBSITE

ZONNIC brand synthetic nicotine sachet

Should we be worried about his arrival in Quebec?

“It’s definitely something of concern from a pediatric health standpoint,” says Dr.^r Chadi, who specifies that these nicotine sachets “are not without risk”. “These sachets can contain nicotine in quite large quantities. Nicotine carries a risk of dependence and there may be effects on the developing brain of adolescents,” he explains.

Some studies show that sachets can have effects on oral health, due to flavorings and chemicals, he adds. “There are also products that could possibly be carcinogenic. We should certainly study them better to better understand the risks,” he says.

What is a nicotine sachet?

ZONNIC sachets contain 4 mg of nicotine each. “It can represent the equivalent of a few cigarettes”, illustrates the D^r Chad.

A few pouches of 4 mg nicotine could be the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes or a pod of vaping products containing nicotine at 20 mg per milliliter, for example.

The D^r Nicholas Chadi, researcher specializing in addiction at CHU Sainte-Justine

For comparison, nicotine replacement patches come in strengths of 7, 14, and 21 mg, but deliver nicotine over a 24-hour period. “So, if we are going to consume five or even ten sachets in a day, we are going to exceed the quantity that would be included in a nicotine patch,” he says.

ZONNIC, a product intended for young adults?

A young man training, a young woman in a meeting and a group of friends sitting on a couch to listen to a match: ZONNIC’s advertisements on the internet feature young adults who use nicotine sachets. “As a pediatric health professional, I am concerned about seeing this type of which could be attractive to young people, adolescents and young adults,” says Dr.^r Chadi. He points out that similar advertisements have circulated in recent years when cartridge vaping devices have gained popularity. The company specifies on its website that its product is intended for adults only.

With the collaboration of Mylène Crête, The Press

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