People fill refrigerators with it, stack it three feet high, and even sleep with it in their mouths. It’s the Internet’s new obsession: Zyn.
Sold in small bags, Zyn is the brand name for a synthetic nicotine product that dominates the market. It is similar to chewing tobacco, although it does not contain tobacco, in that users place it between their lips and gums to obtain a dose of nicotine and a light effect.
The product is sold as a way to get people to quit tobacco, but a new generation of users is skipping the middleman and jumping straight to Zyn, and quickly becoming addicted.
According to the American Lung Association, There has been a 641 percent increase in sales of nicotine pouches across all brands between 2019 and 2022, a trend that shows an “alarming rate of use among youth.”
Earlier this year, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a warning against the products, stating that Zyn is marketed to teenagers through social media, hooking children from a young age, similar to that has been blamed on vaporizers and electronic cigarettes.
However, no matter a person’s age, the products carry risks, such as tooth decay, heart problems, and addiction.
And Dr. Stacy Sylvie, an internist and preventive medicine doctor based in Alabama, told DailyMail.com that Zyns are not approved by the FDA, meaning they may contain “unsafe contaminants or additives.”
Zyns contains a crystallized nicotine powder that, when placed in the mouth, is absorbed into the bloodstream.
Tucker Carlson used to be an enthusiastic promoter of Zyn nicotine pouches. He is seen wearing one at the Republican National Convention in July.
While there are many different brands of nicotine pouches, Zyn is among the most popular and is often seen in the hands of celebrities.
Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson said in October 2022 that he enjoyed Zyn and that the product could work as a “male enhancer,” although there is no evidence of this. Carlson has since said that this comment was a joke.
Now he has come out publicly against the company and created his own brand of nicotine pouches called Alp.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield was reprimanded by the NFL for putting a Zyn in his mouth while on the sidelines of a game.
Actor Josh Brolin has shared that he is so addicted to an unspecified brand of nicotine pouches that he sleeps with them in his mouth.
Zyn is sold at gas stations, convenience stores, and tobacconists nationwide; Tobacco products can be found in most places.
A pack of 15 bags sells for about $5, although the price varies depending on location and supplier.
According to their website, you must be at least 21 years old to purchase Zyn.
The company said: “We take the issue of underage use very seriously, which is why we require all new visitors to go through a strict age verification process before entering our website.” If you don’t currently use nicotine, ZYN is not for you.’
Online, users share videos of them creating what appear to be nearly four-foot-tall towers from empty boats. There are also videos of people filling entire refrigerators with the containers.
While Zyn has become the leading brand, others include Sesh, Black Buffalo and Carlson’s Alp.
About three percent of American adults reported using a nicotine pouch in 2024, according to a study by Keck School of Medicine of USC – representing approximately 7.5 million people.
Each pouch contains crystallized nicotine and is placed between the gums and lips. Over about 30 minutes, the nicotine dissolves and passes through the tissue of the mouth, entering the bloodstream.
This can cause tingling, energy, and a cerebral high, which users have described as helping them increase focus and heart rate. However, in other users, the powerful dose of nicotine can cause gum irritation, dizziness, and vomiting.
Zyn sells packs ranging from 1.5 mg to nine mg of nicotine per pouch. An average cigarette contains 10 to 12 mg of nicotine, but only a fraction of that amount is inhaled, representing about 1 mg to 2 mg per cigarette.
However, in a smokeless tobacco product, all of the nicotine passes from the product directly into the body, meaning it can be overwhelming for some people.
Baker Mayfield appeared to put one of these bags in his mouth while on the sidelines of an October 2024 regular season game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Dr Syvlie said: ‘Zyn, in particular, provides higher concentrations of nicotine compared to most other nicotine products. This amplifies the risk of physical and mental dependence.’
Unlike snuff or dip, users do not have to spit when using the product and it produces no odor or smoke, making it a more discreet option than traditional products.
Still, some research has found that non-tobacco products contain some of the same chemicals found in cigarettes.
A 2022 study of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, which tested 44 different nicotine pouch products from 20 unnamed companies, found that almost 60 percent contained cancer-causing chemicals called tobacco-specific nitrosamines.
This includes ammonia, chromium and formaldehyde, the chemical used in embalming fluids.
These are the same chemicals that make cigarettes and other tobacco products carcinogenic.
So, although Zyn does not contain tobacco itself, it can be made from some of the same substances.
Dr David Hendricks, deputy medical director at Mountainside Treatment Centre, told DailyMail.com: “While the risks of Zyn pouches specifically contributing to oral cancer remain unclear, older nicotine products have been identified as cancer risks.
Josh Brolin said he used to use nicotine lozenges for his fix, but switched to nicotine pouches. He sometimes sleeps with the products on and said it comes so naturally to him that his wife has seen him put one in his mouth while he sleeps.
Experts say long-term studies are needed before they can conclude whether the bags have any lasting impact on health.
However, doctors do know about some of the short-term harm, Dr. Hendricks said.
These include problems with oral health, such as mouth sores, gum irritation, inflammation, and reduced saliva, which can lead to cavities. Additionally, many people experience nausea, vomiting, and mouth ulcers.
Additionally, Dr. Mike McGrath, a board-certified psychiatrist and clinical director, told DailyMail.com that these products can be dangerous for people with heart disease or other cardiovascular conditions, as they increase blood pressure and heart rate.
However, Dr. Sylvie pointed out that these bags could be part of the reasons why overall tobacco use has been declining.
Gallup Polls in 2024 found that cigarette smoking hit its lowest level in 80 years this year, with only 11 percent of American adults smoking cigarettes.
However, Zyn is not regulated by the FDA as a nicotine replacement product, so it is difficult to know how many people use it and how many packages are purchased.
This also means that while the products are not illegal, they are not reviewed for safety before being placed on shelves.
Dr Sylvie said: “Zyn and other alternative nicotine products sometimes fall into a regulatory gray area with limited oversight.”
He concluded: “So while I think we have made progress in terms of reducing the harms associated with traditional tobacco products, the risks of trendy nicotine alternatives like Zyn should not be ignored.”