A new trend has secretly been spreading through Arcata High. Zyn nicotine pouches– they’re sleek, discreet, and smokeless. These white pouches have become a go-to for students looking for a buzz without the smoke or smell from vaping. While many might think they are harmless, Zyns have serious health risks that many students overlook.
Zyns are small, nicotine-filled pouches that are placed under your lip. They come in many flavors like mint, citrus, and coffee. They are designed to be spit-free, making them nearly undetectable in classrooms. This discreet way of taking nicotine has made them extremely popular among students to avoid being caught by teachers and parents.
“I use them all the time,” an anonymous junior said. “ I pop like two, three throughout every class, no one even notices.”
While marketing and the packaging might make Zyns look clean, they are far from harmless. Each pouch contains three or six milligrams of nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and is the same stimulant found in vapes and cigarettes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can slow down brain development in teens, affecting learning and attention.
Health experts warn that the lack of regulation and the ease of access have made the problem worse. Zyns can be purchased online or from local gas stations or convenience stores, in some cases without strict age verification. Because they don’t produce smoke or vapor, students seem to think they’re a “safe” alternative to vaping, but that’s misleading. In addition to nicotine addiction, Zyn users may experience gum irritation, mouth sores, and increased heart rate.
Another senior student said, “I feel like I lock in when I have one in, they really focus my mind on that task.”
Students are starting to understand the negative effects nicotine has on their bodies and are working to quit. Quitting is difficult; however, students who do quit state that they feel much clearer-headed and have a much greater sense of reality.
Many more teens and students are speaking out about the dangers of Zyn and supporting their friends who want to quit. The more we have conversations about nicotine in the classroom or at home, the better we become self-aware of our actions. Change starts with self-awareness, and for many teens, that first step is realizing they are not the only ones thinking about quitting.
