Survey Reveals Nicotine Pouches as One of the Main Substances Used by Young People, Says Drug Education Charity
A recent survey conducted by drug education charity the DSM Foundation has revealed that nicotine pouches, also known as “snus,” are one of the main substances used by young people. The survey, which gathered data from over 2,100 15-18 year olds, showed that 46% of respondents cited nicotine pouches as a commonly used substance among their peers.
This survey marks the first time that nicotine pouches were included as a named drug in the DSM Foundation’s survey, in response to frequent mentions in the “other” category in the 2023-24 academic year survey. Nicotine pouches, also known as snus or nicopods, come in a variety of brands and flavors, including Nordic Spirit, Zyn, and Velo.
The DSM Foundation gathers this data by asking students in Years 11-13 (or equivalent in Scotland) to complete the survey anonymously ahead of a workshop delivered by one of the charity’s drugs education team members. This allows the charity to gain valuable insight into a range of topics, including any previous drugs education the students have received, their perceptions about substance use, and the behaviors, attitudes, and motivations of their peers.
According to the survey, vaping remained the most popular answer among respondents with 95% citing it, followed by alcohol at 91%, cigarettes at 67%, and cannabis/weed at 66%. Nicotine pouches were the fifth most commonly used substance, following cannabis edibles at 34%. The survey also showed little change in the data for other substances, with the exception of nitrous oxide, which was moved to the stricter Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 in November 2023.
Interestingly, the acceptability of nicotine pouch use was lower than expected, with around a third of respondents deeming it “not OK to use.” Over a quarter of 15-18 year olds also believed that nicotine pouch use caused problems for their peers, making it the fifth most common answer after vaping, alcohol, cigarettes, and smoked cannabis.
The DSM Foundation has responded to this increase in awareness of nicotine pouches by including the topic in many of their universal drugs education workshops for young people, particularly for this age group. The charity has also developed a factsheet on nicotine pouches for young people and included them in their free downloadable materials for schools to use in Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE; PSE in Scotland). They have also offered dedicated resources on the topic for parents, caregivers, and school staff.
Fiona Spargo-Mabbs, Director, Founder, and mother of Dan, who passed away from an accidental overdose of ecstasy at the age of 16, shared her thoughts on the survey. “Our survey is such a valuable tool for our workshop planning, to ensure we are providing as relevant and useful a session for each group of students as possible,” she said. “It also, importantly, enables us to identify trends in use and emerging substances, such as nicotine pouches, alongside feedback from individual schools, local and national data and reporting. This, in turn, enables us to make sure we continue to provide current, relevant information, guidance, and signposting for young people and the adults in their lives.”
The DSM Foundation is a drug education charity established in 2014 following the death of 16-year-old Daniel Spargo-Mabbs. The aim of the charity is to provide young people with relevant, age-appropriate, up to date and evidence-based information about drugs so they can make informed choices that will keep themselves and their friends safe. The charity currently works with almost 750 schools, colleges, and community organizations and also provides workshops for parents and caregivers, as well as training for school and college staff.
For more information about the DSM Foundation and their work, visit their website at https://www.dsmfoundation.org.uk/. Media inquiries about this press release or the work of the DSM Foundation can be sent to media@dsmfoundation.org.uk.
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