India Faces Calls to Ban Nicotine Pouches Amid Rising Teen Addiction Concerns

Recent health reports and advocacy efforts highlight growing concerns about nicotine product use among youth and adults globally. In India, Mothers Against Vaping have urged the government to ban nicotine pouches and gums, warning these products are being marketed deceptively by multinational tobacco companies through pharmaceutical fronts, posing serious risks to teenagers. In contrast, New Zealand's government has reduced excise duties on Heated Tobacco Products to encourage smokers to switch to less harmful alternatives, aiming to reduce smoking rates, particularly among older smokers. Meanwhile, U.S. surveys reveal a significant decline in cigarette smoking since 2021, with vaping becoming more popular among youth, who predominantly vape nicotine rather than smoke cigarettes, though adults mostly continue smoking traditional tobacco. Australian research indicates that adolescent vaping is associated with increased subsequent smoking initiation, and recent data suggest that reductions in youth smoking rates have slowed since vaping became widespread, challenging assumptions that vaping solely reduces smoking prevalence. These developments underscore a complex landscape where nicotine product regulation, public health strategies, and youth behavior interact in varied ways across different countries.