Despite best efforts, there remains a distinct smoking problem in the USA. There are still nearly 30 million adult smokers (which equates to 11.6% of the population) and nearly half a million deaths every year in the USA are as a result of smoking. Smoking costs the USA over $600 billion a year – of that amount, $370 billion is lost productivity and $240 billion is in healthcare costs. These are some of the reasons why the government is keen to reduce the impact of cigarettes and vapes. 28 states have comprehensive smoke-free laws but there are still 22 states that are unprotected from smoking and secondhand smoke (especially public places and workplaces).
According to the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, 82% of US residents live in an area where there is a smoking ban in the workplace and restaurants and bars, as determined by state, commonwealth or local law. 62% of US residents live in an area where there is a blanket smoking ban covering all workplaces, restaurants and bars. It is illegal for minors under the age of 21 to purchase cigarettes, e-cigs, vapes or other tobacco products. Furthermore, the Tobacco Control Act of 2009 states that all tobacco products, including smokeless products must have large and visible warnings. The American Lung Association also strongly campaigns for smokefree environments and protecting air quality and pollution caused by smoking. Additionally, there are free programs to help Americans quit, including resources, telephone support, texting programs and mobile apps. So while there is still a continuing smoking problem, smoking is on the decline in the US, but there are plenty of people who feel the government isn’t doing enough to ensure the USA becomes smoke-free.
Nicotine Pouches, A Tobacco-Free Option in a Changing Market
There is one product that is helping Americans to quit smoking for good and it’s encouraging to see their popularity grow. We’re talking about nicotine pouches. First introduced into the USA in 2014, these adult recreational products are now worth a whopping $3.13 billion and projected to grow to $37.34 billion by 2032. Nicotine pouches have become so relevant that they’ve become an integral part of a new category, smokeless alternatives. Let’s find out more about nicotine pouches.
What Are Nicotine Pouches?
Nicotine or caffeine pouches are tiny little perforated sachets that are worn orally, although they are not ingested. Inside the sachets, there’s a blend of nicotine (in varying doses), flavorings (similar to vape flavors), plant-based fibers (making them biodegradable, therefore eco-friendly), water and sweetener. Note the absence of tobacco which is really important because it’s the tobacco in cigarettes and vapes that’s carcinogenic, responsible for numerous cancers. What’s more, as well as the tobacco-free element, these products are also fume-free, so they don’t pollute the air, cause second-hand smoke inhalation and neither do they affect the respiratory system. All in all, they’re a cleaner, safer and healthier smoking replacement, marketed as adult recreational products. In terms of smoking cessation, the nicotine content in these pouches is what’s essential for helping smokers to resist cigarette cravings. Of course, smoking does create a sensation which is what so many smokers miss when they quit, but unlike other nicotine replacement therapies, nicotine pouches create their own sensation – and smokers report they enjoy it even more than a cigarette!
How Nicotine Pouches Work
Nicotine pouches work by releasing a steady stream of nicotine and flavorings into the mouth, which are absorbed through the membranes causing feelings of elation, relaxation, happiness and a distinct burst of energy. These feelings last for a minimum of 30 minutes (longer than a cigarette), up to a maximum of a couple of hours, which is another reason why these products are so effective for smoking cessation.
How Policy Changes Are Driving Demand for Smoke-Free Solutions
While the US government’s no-smoking policies haven’t seen significant changes over the past two to three years, shortly there should be a ban coming into existence on menthol flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars, although this policy has failed to come to fruition as yet.
Furthermore, in March 2024, a bulletin was released to improve the delivery of tobacco cessation services for the general public. Nevertheless, arguably, with such buoyant sales in the new smokeless category this has highlighted a real need for better smoking cessation products.
The Business of Health: How Companies Are Supporting Smoke-Free Initiatives
Twenty eight states in the USA have a blanket-wide ban on smoking in the workplace and companies in these states are keen to support their staff through smoke-free initiatives. Business owners know that smoking costs their companies money – studies show that employees who smoke in the USA are 33% more likely to miss work for nearly 3 days more per year compared to their non-smoking coworkers.
Smokers also tend to take more breaks – and this costs up to 30 minutes per day per smoking employee in lost work time. The additional cost of a smoking employee is approximately $5816 per year – this includes healthcare and lost productivity costs. It’s also widely appreciated that businesses that provide a smoking cessation benefit for their employees do reap the rewards. For example, health insurance coverage for quitting smoking treatments or even financial incentives for giving up. A study of CVS Caremark employees showed that by offering financial incentives to quit, smokers working for this company were far more likely to quit and remain non-smokers.
Public Awareness Campaigns and Their Impact on Smoking Rates
The Food and Drug Administration also runs an ongoing (award-winning) public education campaign known as The Real Cost. In existence for 10 years, it is there to discourage young Americans from smoking or using any tobacco products. The campaign focuses on education on the dangers and risks of cigarettes, vapes and other similar products. Using marketing and advertising across teen communication platforms, it has helped to prevent up to 600,000 youths from the age of 11 to 19 from smoking combustible tobacco and has reached almost 90% of youths.
The American Lung Association spearheads continuous public campaigns aimed at adults, informing people about the hazards and consequences of smoking (including passive smoking). Using public events, social media and challenging smokers to quit has also made a positive difference. The association offers counselling services, quit lines resources and conducts ongoing, extensive research on various topics related to smoking and smoking cessation.
Conclusion: The Future of Tobacco Alternatives in National Health Policy
The US has run extensive campaigns and implemented numerous smoking bans over the past twenty years, ramping up its efforts to combat smoking and reduce its impact on public health. However, despite these valiant efforts, there are still almost 30 million adult smokers in the country. Not only does this affect public health but it contributes to significant healthcare costs and inordinate loss of productivity. Certain policies, such as blanket workplace smoking bans and age restrictions on tobacco have helped smoking rates to decline and new innovations in smoking cessation products such as nicotine pouches are proving a promising tobacco-free solution. These small, discreet and convenient sachets offer smokers a cleaner, safer option without the risks of passive smoking. This is in line with the US government’s goal of a smoke-free society and, while these sachets are meant to be used for adult recreational purposes, there’s some quiet discussion on marketing these products as new age cessation tools.
