Legal loophole allows children to ‘get high’ on nicotine pouches.
A box of nicotine pouches.
Credit: Shutterstock, Natalia Bohren
A legal loophole is allowing children to ‘get high’ on nicotine pouches in Ireland. Schools across the country are sounding the alarm about a sneaky new nicotine craze that’s taking classrooms by storm. Tiny, unregulated pouches – dubbed ‘nicopods’- are being slipped under students’ lips for a discreet nicotine hit, leaving teachers none the wiser and parents in the dark.
The unregulated danger of ‘nicopods‘ in Ireland
These pouches, which come in flavours like mint and fruit, are modelled on an old Scandinavian product called ‘snus.’ Snus isn’t anything new in schools, but unlike their tobacco-laden ancestor, these modern counterparts are pure nicotine – and completely legal under current Irish law. That’s right: no restrictions, no age limits, and no guarantees about what’s inside.
One tin of these pocket-sized pick-me-ups costs around €5 and holds anywhere from 15 to 25 pouches. Deals online make bulk buying easy, fuelling fears that teens are snapping them up with their pocket money.
Reviews online rave about the products, with one user admitting to enjoying the “nice minty flavour and good buzz.” But for schools, the buzz is far from nice.
A South Dublin secondary school recently issued a serious warning to parents after finding used pouches scattered around campus. The school’s notice described the pouches as ‘odourless and very small,’ making them ‘nearly impossible to detect.’
‘Addiction to nicotine remains a major concern,’ the note stated, urging parents to seek advice from their GP if they suspect their child is using these products. Contact details for HSE and addiction helplines were also provided.
School principals demand action
Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, says schools are scrambling to tackle the problem, as these pouches have no age limits or legal restrictions. Crone also highlighted concerns about how these pouches might affect student behaviour.
Legal loophole leaves parents and teachers powerless
A spokesperson for the HSE confirmed that synthetic nicotine pouches are perfectly legal in Ireland, as they aren’t classified as tobacco or vaping products. This legal grey area leaves parents and schools without the tools to combat the issue effectively.
In response, the Department of Education pointed to efforts to educate students about healthy lifestyle choices, including new Junior Cycle SPHE lessons introduced in September 2023. But critics argue that education alone isn’t enough to curb a trend that’s growing as fast as these pouches can be delivered.
The bottom line
Parents are being urged to keep a close eye on their children and have open conversations about the dangers of nicotine addiction. With no regulations in place, the message is clear: it’s time to nip this trend in the bud before it spirals out of control.
What do you think? Should these pouches be banned, or is this just another case of teens finding a way around the rules? Let us know in the comments!
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