Latest news with #NatalieRine
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Reports of US children ingesting nicotine pouches surge, study says
Reports of US children under six ingesting nicotine pouches – the small rectangles containing flavored nicotine that have exploded in popularity – jumped 763% in just three years, according to a study published on Monday. Several of the children ended up in intensive care after ingesting the pouches and two children died, the report said. The uptick in poisonings comes as the country has seen a recent surge in sales of nicotine pouches. 'If there is more access or increased popularity of an item in the community, it's not surprising for us to see increased exposures to products like that,' said Natalie Rine, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an author of the study in in Pediatrics, a journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Zyn, a Swedish brand of nicotine pouches produced by the Stockholm-based Swedish Match which is owned by cigarette manufacturer Philip Morris International, has become particularly popular, with the hashtag #ZYN accumulating more than 700m views on TikTok and rightwing commentators such as Tucker Carlson promoting it. The Zyn pouches come in flavors such as fruit and mint, which public health experts say makes them more attractive to children and teens. 'As a result of it not being in an oil like in a vape pen, or in a leaf like tobacco, there really isn't as much negative taste associated with it for a young child to spit it out, and it's therefore more appealing if you were to discover it as a young kid,' said Dr Molly O'Shea, a Michigan pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics. While the product can elevate a person's mood and their focus, 'if you're a teeny tiny person, it can poison you. It can increase your heart rate and blood pressure so much that it causes your heart to fail, and that's why it's such a big problem,' said O'Shea. The study found that most exposures among children resulted in minor or no effects, but there were 39 cases with major medical outcomes, which include seizures and respiratory failure, and two deaths. Health providers say adults should store the product in a locked area of the home or cabinet so children cannot access them, and to avoid using the products in front of children, who are likely to mimic such behavior. 'Kids are incredibly curious. They're very resourceful, and they want to do what adults do,' O'Shea said. If you suspect that a child may have ingested a pouch in the US you can call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 where nurses and pharmacists are available at all hours to advise.
New York Post
14-07-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Nicotine pouch poisoning of kids under 6 has increased 763% in just 3 years — what the scary symptoms look like
They may look like tiny pillows, but they pack a toxic punch. Cigarette smoking has plummeted dramatically since 1965, but in recent years, nicotine use is on the uptick thanks to vapes and nicotine pouches like Zyns, which offer a more discreet way of delivering a nicotine fix than e-cigs. But a shocking new study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics has revealed that these smoke-free alternatives pose a deadly threat to little children. Advertisement A new study has revealed that these smoke-free alternatives pose a deadly threat to little children. Between 2010 and 2023, there were were 134,663 nicotine ingestions among children younger than six, a number based on calls to US poison centers . But while the rate of ingestion by vapes decreased, poisonings due to nicotine pouches surged by 763% just between 2020 and 2023. And 76% of those nicotine poisoning cases were in babies and toddlers below the age of 2. Advertisement The majority of these poisonings had little to no side effects and 81.3% didn't even require a trip to the hospital. However, 39 children had serious side effects — and two died. The toddlers — both under the age of 2 — died after consuming the liquid nicotine found in vapes. 'It's good that the majority of kids in the study actually did pretty well. Most kids had either minor symptoms or no symptoms and didn't require any medical management,' Natalie Rine, the director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, told NBC. Advertisement Child poisonings due to nicotine pouches surged by 763% just between 2020 and 2023. Suzi Media – 'But two deaths is a lot, especially for something considered a preventable death.' The study noted that nicotine pouches — which can contain as much as 6 milligrams of nicotine — were twice as likely to result in a hospital visit than other nicotine products. Advertisement Rine told USA Today that some of the initial symptoms of poisoning are nausea and vomiting — however, this can escalate to high blood pressure, a rapid heart rate, seizures, respiratory failure and even comas, especially with large doses. To keep your kids safe, she recommends keeping these products out of the house entirely — particularly the pouches, which are often flavored and easy to mistake for candy or other sweets — or locking them up. Avoid using the products around them, as 'children like to mimic behavior,' she pointed out to USA Today. Other tips include choosing products with childproof packaging and keeping the national Poison Help Line number (1-800-222-1222) somewhere within clear view at home.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children Under 6 Being Poisoned by Nicotine Pouches, New Study Finds
At least 134,663 cases of kids under age 6 inadvertently ingesting nicotine were reported between 2010 and 2023, according to a study published in Pediatrics on Monday, July 14 The most significant rise in accidental poisoning was caused by nicotine pouches "It's easy to access, it tastes good, kids don't really know the difference — that could lead to more serious outcomes because they're getting a large dose very quickly," Natalie Rine, a study co-author, said of the pouches, per STAT NewsAs the range of nicotine products on the market continues to expand, a new study has found they are increasingly making their way into the hands of young children. On Monday, July 14, a study based on calls to America's Poison Centers was published in Pediatrics that revealed 134,663 cases of kids under age 6 inadvertently ingested nicotine between 2010 and 2023, NBC News reported, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics. While the form of the substance varied between products such as pouches, gum, tablets and e-cigarettes, almost all of the cases involved exposure to nicotine at home. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Many of the children experienced nausea or vomiting, but two fatal instances involved children under the age of 2 dying after consuming liquid nicotine, STAT News reported. 'We don't want parents and caregivers to be led to a false sense of security that they aren't that harmful if most don't have a bad outcome,' said Natalie Rine, a study co-author and managing director of Central Ohio Poison Center, per the outlet. The most significant rise in accidental poisoning in kids was caused by nicotine pouches, similar to the hugely popular Zyn, the study found. The number of instances soared by 763% between 2020 and 2023, STAT News reported, citing the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ingesting nicotine in the form of a pouch was 1.5 times more likely to cause a serious health issue than other nicotine products. 'The pouches are highly concentrated products,' said Rine, per STAT News. 'The flavors are attractive too. So when you have something like that — it's easy to access, it tastes good, kids don't really know the difference — that could lead to more serious outcomes because they're getting a large dose very quickly.' Zyn contains up to 6 milligrams of nicotine, while competitor varieties can be double the amount, according to STAT News. The risk of being poisoned is increased if children consume multiple pouches. The outlet notes that a full tin of Zyn totals 90 milligrams of nicotine in comparison to a pack of cigarettes, averaging no more than 36 milligrams. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Following the study, parents are advised to lock away their nicotine products rather than storing them in bags or cabinets where curious children may explore. 'For younger kids, when they see fun, brightly-colored packaging, they want to take a look and see what that is,' Rine said, per STAT News. 'Storage can help keep kids safe.' Read the original article on People
CTV News
14-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
As nicotine pouches' popularity soars, they're also responsible for more poisonings in young kids, study finds
A new study found that children's accidental nicotine ingestion from nicotine pouches rose more than 760% between 2020 and 2023. (via CNN Newsource) Nicotine pouches are a fast-growing source of nicotine poisoning in young children, according to a new study. Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio analyzed more than a decade's worth of data, examining over 134,000 cases of children under 6 who accidentally ingested nicotine through products like vapes, gums, and lozenges. Most types of exposures fell after 2016. But one delivery method — nicotine pouches — shot up, rising more than 760% between 2020 and 2023. 'It's a high-concentration nicotine product, and it tastes good,' said Dr. Natalie Rine, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital and co-author of the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. 'There's nothing telling the kid, 'this is bad, you should spit it out' … and that's where you get into trouble.' The miniature white packets that users tuck between their lip and gum hit US shelves in 2014. They don't contain tobacco but are instead filled with nicotine, either synthetically or naturally derived, along with flavorings and sweeteners. The discreet, sweet and smokeless nature of nicotine pouches has raised concerns among public health advocates, who are closely watching their rising popularity among teens and young adults. They've become the second most-used nicotine product among young people, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Youth Tobacco Survey found that nicotine pouch use among teens doubled between 2021 and 2024. Still, the overall user base remains small. Just 0.5% of Americans use nicotine pouches, compared with 9% who smoke cigarettes and 3% who vape or use e-cigarettes, according to US Census Bureau data. Levels of nicotine in pouches can vary from 3 to 12 milligrams per pouch. At their lowest doses, they deliver more of the stimulant than a cigarette, and even small amounts of nicotine can be dangerous for small children. Ingesting just 1 to 2 milligrams — less than what's inside a single regular-strength pouch — can cause nausea, vomiting and tremors, among other serious symptoms, according to the National Library of Medicine. The study found that nicotine pouches were associated with a 150% greater risk of serious medical effects and were twice as likely to lead to hospitalization than other smokeless nicotine products swallowed by children, like gums, lozenges, e-liquids, tablets and powders. Although the vast majority of pediatric nicotine ingestions resulted in little to no harm, more than 1,600 children had serious medical outcomes, the study found. Two children died after ingesting liquid nicotine. Rine recommends that parents avoid using nicotine pouches in front of children to keep them from imitating potentially risky adult behaviors. She also suggests keeping nicotine products physically out of kids' reach and to have conversations with other caretakers, like babysitters and extended family, about doing the same. If a child may have ingested a nicotine pouch, Rine says, the best first step is to call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Trained staff can guide caregivers based on a child's symptoms and help them decide if emergency care is needed. Jeffrey Kopp, CNN
USA Today
14-07-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Young kids, babies are getting into nicotine pouches. What parents should know.
Poison control centers are sounding the alarm on nicotine pouches as cases of young children accidentally ingesting them surge around the country. The warning comes amid new research showing calls that involved children under 6 increased by 763% from 2020 to 2023, according to the study published July 14 in the journal Pediatrics. The steep increase in calls to poison control centers is partly due to the rising popularity of nicotine pouches, said Natalie Rine, study co-author and director of the Central Ohio Poison Center. Children were also home more during this period as the pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders, which gave them more access to nicotine products stored in the house. 'The popularity of these products started in 2019,' she said. 'There was a large increase in sales between 2019 and 2022… and we started getting calls more frequently.' Nicotine pouches, sometimes referred to as "lip pillow" or "upper decker," are small microfiber pouches containing nicotine powder. Here's what parents should know about keeping their kids safe from nicotine pouches. 'Nicotine hiccups': What are they and why do they happen? How is nicotine dangerous to kids? Nicotine pouches were 1.5 times more likely to be associated with a serious medical outcome and twice as likely to be associated with a medical admission compared to any other nicotine product included in the study, such as cigarettes or liquid nicotine. Nicotine is a highly toxic substance to young children, especially in a concentrated form like a nicotine pouch, according to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. FDA seeks to limit nicotine in cigarettes, most cigars. Vapes and Zyn are excluded. After ingestion, some minor symptoms can include nausea and vomiting, Rine said. But as the dose increases, children can experience high blood pressure and a fast heart rate, which can escalate to seizures and respiratory failure. Among the 135,000 calls made to poison control centers between 2010 and 2023, study authors found that nicotine was linked to two deaths in children under 6. How to prevent an emergency The best way to prevent a child from ingesting a nicotine pouch is to keep products out of the house, Rine said. If parents or guardians choose to keep nicotine products at home, she recommends they take the following precautions: What to do if your kid swallows a nicotine pouch If a child is experiencing a medical emergency, Rine urges parents to call 911. If they're showing mild symptoms, she recommends calling the national Poison Help Line to access free, confidential expert advice from specially trained nurses and pharmacists. 'We're always there to help talk you through what symptoms you're seeing with the child, based on the history that's given,' Rine said. She warns against trying to induce vomiting, as that can lead to a secondary problem if fluid enters the lungs. 'Inducing vomiting is one of the bigger misconceptions that's out there,' Rine said. 'More often than not, you have the potential to cause more of a problem than what you're already dealing with.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
