Sleek, small, and smokeless — ZYN “pouches” are becoming increasingly common at PHS. Some students see them as a way to relax or focus, while others worry about their addictive nature and health risks.
“It’s kind of concerning,” said an anonymous senior. “I know people who use them, and they seem pretty hooked. I don’t think they realize how addictive they are.”
According to the FDA, nicotine found in ZYNs triggers the release of dopamine in the brain’s reward system, creating a pleasurable and rewarding experience. This causes cravings, and possibly even a dependence on nicotine after repeated usage.
“There’s no smoke. All you do is put it in your mouth,” said an anonymous junior who started using ZYNs because they seemed healthier than vaping.
“I think it’s less addictive than vaping, everyone loves a fruity flavor but not everyone loves the feeling you get when you swallow some of the ZYN and feel like you’re going to throw up,” the junior said.
According to the American Lung Association, one of the most commonly proposed reasons for using ZYNs is that they’re a “healthier alternative” to other drugs. The company motto reinforces this perception: “Can’t smoke? Can’t vape? Can ZYN.”
But the health risks extend past peoples’ lungs. According to the National Institute of Health, ZYNs can cause irritation, inflammation, and gum recession due to nicotine’s effect on blood flow to the gums.
“Recently I burned a hole in my upper lip, and I know other people that have had that happen as well” said the anonymous junior.
Another reason for using ZYNs, a student said, is to concentrate in school.
“Like for SAT prep and stuff I just pop one in,” said an anonymous junior. “It makes me work a lot harder and makes my brain lock in.”
Students aren’t just using ZYNs off campus. One Piedmont student said they use ZYNs at least six to seven times every day.
“I pretty much always have a ZYN in at school” said the anonymous sophomore.
While the long-term health risks of ZYNs remain unclear, the appeal among high school students is growing, partly due to the product’s discreet packaging and fruity, minty flavors.
“They’re super accessible,” said Madelyn Sage, a Wellness Center staff member. “If you know someone who’s 21, you can get them. Some students even use fake IDs or just ask older friends.”
“A lot of people start with vapes, and when that’s not enough, they move to ZYNs,” Sage said. “ZYNs are a lot stronger. It’s a progression.”
That progression is often social in nature, sometimes spreading through peer pressure.
“It was my first and I remember [my friends] kept offering it to me and they all kept saying things like ‘it’s fine, just like take one, just take one.’ ‘It’s really fun, just take one.’” an anonymous senior said. “ In full honesty, I was low key gonna take one cause I cause they kept on insisting, so I was like, it can’t be that bad, right?”
According to the Truth Initiative, ZYN sales hit 580 million cans in 2024, a 50 percent increase from 385 million in 2023.
The Wellness Center said one way to address this growing popularity is by showing students what long-term addiction really looks like.
“Bring in college students with nicotine addiction and have them tell their stories. It hits harder when it’s someone closer in age saying, ‘This isn’t cool anymore,’” Sage said.
