ELSEWHERE in this paper, we carry a story of nicotine pouches, the new danger to young children across the world.
They are small, discreet and easy to hide.
Tucked inside pockets, school bags and pencil cases, nicotine pouches are rapidly becoming one of the most difficult products for parents and teachers to detect among teenagers.
At first glance, they look harmless — tiny white sachets resembling mint sweets or chewing gum.
They produce no smoke, no smell and no visible vapour.
A teenager can slip one between the lip and gum in seconds without attracting attention.
That is exactly why health experts are worried.
The World Health Organization is now warning that nicotine pouches are fast becoming a new gateway to addiction for young people across the world.
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It says in 2024 alone, global sales reportedly surpassed 23 billion units, underlining just how quickly the products have entered mainstream markets.
Unlike cigarettes or vapes, nicotine pouches are designed to remain almost invisible.
Parents may not notice unusual smells on clothing or clouds of vapour.
Teachers may struggle to identify students using them during lessons.
The danger, experts say, lies in how ordinary the products appear.
Many are sold in colourful containers and sweet flavours that resemble confectionery rather than addictive substances.
Flavours such as mint, berry and citrus make them especially appealing to younger users, while social media influencers and online marketing campaigns present them as trendy and harmless.
According to WHO, the tactics mirror the same strategies once used to attract young people to cigarettes and, later, vaping products.
“These products are being aggressively marketed to young people,” WHO warned recently, pointing to flashy branding, sports sponsorships and influencer-driven advertising.
But behind the polished image is nicotine: one of the world’s most addictive substances.
Health experts say nicotine exposure during adolescence can interfere with brain development, affecting concentration, learning, impulse control and emotional regulation.
Young users also face increased risks of long-term dependence and cardiovascular complications later in life.
What makes nicotine pouches particularly alarming is the ease with which children can conceal them.
Parents are now being urged to pay closer attention to unfamiliar containers or small round tins in their children’s school bags, bedrooms or clothing pockets.
Sudden behavioural changes, irritability, mood swings or increased secrecy may also signal nicotine use.
Unlike cigarettes, which leave obvious traces, nicotine pouches can easily escape detection for months.
The growing concern is compounded by weak regulation.
WHO says around 160 countries still lack specific laws governing nicotine pouches.
In many places, there are no age restrictions, advertising bans or controls on flavoured products.
This has allowed manufacturers to expand aggressively while public health authorities struggle to respond.
The pattern is painfully familiar.
E-cigarettes initially entered markets as “safer alternatives” before millions of teenagers worldwide became addicted through sweet flavours and social media promotion.
Public health advocates now fear nicotine pouches are following the same path — only more quietly.
Parents, therefore, have a crucial role to play.
Experts say open conversations about nicotine addiction are essential.
Children and teenagers need to understand that “smoke-free” does not mean risk-free.
The absence of smoke or smell does not make nicotine harmless.
Schools, communities and governments are also being urged to intensify awareness campaigns before the problem grows further.
For many families, however, the first line of defence begins at home — by paying attention.
The small white sachets may look insignificant, but health experts warn they could be quietly hooking a new generation into lifelong addiction.
And by the time the signs become obvious, the dependence may already have taken hold.
