Oral nicotine pouches, marketed as tobacco-free, pose addiction risks despite lower toxicity than smoking, warn researchers.

Oral nicotine pouches, sold in various flavors and nicotine strengths, are less toxic than smoking but still pose addiction risks, according to a recent review in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research. The pouches, similar in appearance and use to traditional 'snus', are marketed as "tobacco-free" but do not contain tobacco leaf. Despite their lower toxicity, researchers warn of potential new forms of nicotine dependence, particularly among youth.