Arizona sees a spike in kids sickened by nicotine pouches, poison control centers report

Sales of nicotine pouches have soared nationwide in the last few years. Now poison control centers are reporting more and more calls after children ingest these products.

A recent article in the journal Pediatrics found nicotine pouch ingestions nationwide spiked 763% from 2020 to 2023.

In Maricopa County, the Banner Poison and Drug Information Center reports the number of calls about children ingesting Zyn or other types of nicotine pouches this year is on pace to be double what it was last year. The majority of cases have involved children under 5 years old.

Center Director Maureen Roland said even a small amount of nicotine can make a child severely ill.

“Nicotine in any form is highly toxic, especially when ingested,” Roland said. “They can have increased heart rate, vomiting; it can lead to seizures.”

Roland said, in some cases, nicotine ingestion can even be fatal for children.

She said the pouches come in colorful packaging and flavors that might look appealing to a child, so it’s important to store these products out-of-reach.

“If they know where it is, and it looks good and smells good, they’re going to probably put it in their mouth,” Roland said.

Roland added that people use the pouches by putting them in between their gums and their lips, and kids may try to mimic that, so she said it’s also important not to use these products in front of kids.

“If they’ve seen you do it, the likelihood is, they’re going to try it,” Roland said.

If a child has ingested nicotine, Roland said poison control is available by phone 24/7 to help assess the situation and connect callers with emergency services if necessary. The phone number is 800-222-1222.