A new study highlights a concerning rise in nicotine poisonings among young children, with nicotine pouches being a significant contributor. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio analyzed over 134,000 cases of accidental nicotine ingestion in children under six, revealing a 760% increase in nicotine pouch exposures from 2020 to 2023.
Dr. Natalie Rine, director of the Central Ohio Poison Center and co-author of the study, emphasized the dangers of nicotine pouches, which are sweet and smokeless, making them appealing to children. “There’s nothing telling the kid, ‘this is bad, you should spit it out,’” she said in a statement published by CNN. These pouches, which contain between 3 to 12 milligrams of nicotine, can cause serious symptoms in children, including nausea and tremors, even at low doses.
The study found that nicotine pouches pose a 150% greater risk of serious medical effects and are twice as likely to lead to hospitalization compared to other nicotine products. While most cases resulted in little harm, over 1,600 children experienced serious medical outcomes, with two fatalities reported from liquid nicotine ingestion.
Dr. Rine advises parents to keep nicotine products out of children’s reach and avoid using them in front of kids. In case of ingestion, caregivers should contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance.
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