Tobacco smokers switching to vaping, which presents its own health risks
Air 2, LLC
More tobacco smokers switching to vaping, which presents its own health risks.
Declining numbers of tobacco smokers since 1965 are being offset by growing numbers of people vaping e-cigarettes.
Trends are seeing people looking for alternatives in a way that are not always a healthy choice. Cigarette smokers do understand that smoking tobacco can lead to a health disaster so they are looking for substitutes. Unfortunately, smokers and our youth picked another bad habit, which is vaping.
Article Summary:
- Inhaled tobacco smoke infiltrates the brain within 20 seconds — making it as addictive as opioids, alcohol, and cocaine. The nicotine results in a dopamine release that makes a person feel good. But along the way, the smoke trails down the throat, coats the lungs, constricts blood vessels and allows for plaque buildup so blood flow may be decreased to vital organs. It is a dangerous delivery system.
- Researchers have been mapping this for decades. However, smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. The vast majority of smokers understand the risks and would like to quit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While half reported trying to quit in the past year, less than 1 in 10 adults succeed in any given year. So people are looking for alternatives — and vaping is one of them.
- The CDC released a report March 6 finding that the number of adults smoking cigarettes decreased by about 6.8 million adults from 2017 to 2023 but was offset by an approximate 7.2 million person increase in adults who use e-cigarettes.
- It is well documented that 90 percent of smokers started as adolescents, reports the CDC. Those decisions are not based upon a stark analysis of facts. Instead, it is swayed by a youthful perception of “coolness,” an inexperienced burst of adventure, a moment that reduces anxiety and stress, especially for those with yet-undiagnosed addictive personalities, ADHD, and schizophrenia.
- As for vaping, early research indicates it increases risk for lung diseases, such as COPD, and a worsening of asthma symptoms. Yet, there are chemicals involved as well, and research is ongoing. In addition, e-cigarette users can buy extra-strength cartridges or increase the e-cigarette's voltage for a greater hit. If utilized, those tactics will not reduce nicotine addiction.
- The FDA is considering a proposal to reduce nicotine levels in tobacco cigarettes to make them nearly non-addictive. While many applaud such a move, others voice concerns that black market sales would increase.
Nicotine pouches are taking a much larger role in the U.S. oral tobacco market as the category continues to shift toward the Nicotine Pouch format. In the second quarter of 2026, the overall nicotine pouch category accounted for 59.9% of the oral tobacco category, up 8.1 percentage points year over year and 1.8 points sequentially. So, who is leading this trend?
Watch this interview with Stacey Kennedy, Philip Morris' International, USA, CEO Stacey Kennedy, Philip Morris International U.S. CEO, details the $1.2 billion investment in their new ZYN nicotine pouch plant in Aurora, Colorado, highlighting its rapid construction and $550 million annual economic impact. Kennedy discusses ZYN's growing demand and recent FDA authorization, which she calls a 'most important endorsement' due to its reduced-risk health claims.
Why nicotine pouches, more than other available alternative options? But why pouches, more than other options? According to the report, it’s a mixture of practicality and “perceived health benefits.” Survey respondents viewed pouches as “healthier” (64 percent), “more discreet” (also 64 percent) and “less intrusive to others” (52 percent), compared to other nicotine products.
With Zyn and On! Plus earning marketing approval from the FDA, the category is becoming increasingly important in c-stores. As cigarette usage continues to decline in the U.S., smokeless tobacco is making its case as the new darling of the backbar.
Daily Nicotine Pouch Use... What is the true cost to our young adults? Is this prolific use of pouches and vapes among teens today the beginning of a new age of managing stress and anxiety for teens and young adults?
Palantir, Hello Patient and other tech companies are stocking offices with nicotine products to increase worker productivity.
New U.S. Wide Liquor Store Tax Hike on NA-Beer and 40-Proof Alcohol.
BAT rolls out VELO nicotine pouches in Argentina as social media buzzes about ZYN distribution.
Breaking News | China Deploys Full-Chain Crackdown on Illicit Tobacco; Enforcement Storm Looms for Illegal Tobacco and E-Cigarettes.
Is Altria ON!, or OFF? While on! held an 8.7% share of the total U.S. oral tobacco category, its position within the nicotine pouch segment slipped to 15.6%, down 4.1 points amid highly elevated competitor promotional activity.
