These new tobacco products are becoming popular, and it is important to understand the health risks of nicotine pouches. In January, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing and sale of 20 different Zyn nicotine pouch products. This does not mean these products are approved by the FDA as a safe drug. It simply means they’ve allowed the company to sell these tobacco products in the US.

A recent study published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows promising results on use of the varenicline (generic Chantix) in adolescents and young adults who vape nicotine. When compared to placebo or behavioral counseling alone, participants taking varenicline had more than three times higher abstinence rates. Overall, varenicline was well tolerated, with only two participants leaving the study due to adverse effects.

Dr. Vilardaga and his team are currently recruiting healthcare professionals who work in primary care, mental health, smoking cessation, or community health care settings for their Digital Access Study. The aim of this study is to understand the implementation, access, and utilization of smoking cessation services in clinics and healthcare centers, particularly for people living with mental health conditions.