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File image of a person using snus. Alamy Stock Photo

Principals raise concerns over student use of addictive 'snus' nicotine pouches in schools

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said that the new government must tackle the ‘growing threat to young people’.

SCHOOL PRINCIPALS HAVE expressed concern about highly addictive nicotine pouches being used by Irish students.

Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, Paul Crone, told the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk that the pouches are based off a Scandinavian tobacco product called snus.

The small pouches, which users put inside their lips to obtain a hit of nicotine, fall outside the parameters of Irish laws on tobacco or vapes.

Crone acknowledges that principals are not certain as to how widespread the practice is in this country. However, they are urging the HSE to issue a health advisory around the use of these small pouches.

Crone states that the problem is that students find it easier to conceal nicotine pouches than traditional tobacco products.

“It was very clear when students were smoking cigarettes, it became clear when they were vaping – they could be seen,” he said.

“It’s much harder to catch them [vaping], but it’s impossible to know when a student has a very small pouch tucked between their gum and their lip, to know how many students are using these products.”

hands-picking-up-a-portion-of-snuff-snus-nicotin-pad-from-the-box Snus is popular in Sweden. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Crone said these nicotine patches are readily available to students, as they aren’t subject to the same sales restrictions as actual snus packets and other products containing tobacco.

“Because there is no tobacco in the pouches, there is no legal basis for restricting their sale or use here in Ireland,” he said.

“So, these pouches are available in local shops, in garages; there’s no age restriction on them because the restrictions apply to the use and sale of tobacco, not nicotine.

“They’re sitting in a loophole space at the moment.”

Crone fears that young people might come under the influence of well known people who use the products.

According to Crone, professional athletes and influencers are introducing many young people to the product.

“(The footballer) Jamie Vardy came out quite strongly that he was using the other nicotine pouches, and other sports stars.

“So, students don’t see the danger in it, they don’t see that potential long-term health effects that it would have on them.

“They just feel that it helps to calm them, it gives them that, I suppose, immediate, instant hit, and they’re not aware of what the long-term implications of that would be for them.

“I presume they can persuade themselves, ‘This is not like smoking, there’s no tar in my lungs, so therefore it’s not harmful to my health’.”

Crone added that Government needs to look at the loophole in our legislation in relation to nicotine pouches.

‘Growing threat’

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said today that he new government must “urgently act” to halt the use of nicotine pouches by secondary school students.

“Apart from the health implications of these pouches, there is now growing concern that nicotine dependency is causing some students to become irritable at school,” Whitmore said.

“In recent years we have seen welcome restrictions on the sale of vaping products and e-cigarettes to under-18s, as well as legislation to ban disposable vapes and increase the minimum legal smoking age to 21.

“Yet, bizarrely, the outgoing Minister for Health failed to regulate the sale of nicotine pouches in tandem with these other measures.

Whitmore added that the new government must not be “so complacent” about the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s, which they label a “growing threat to the health and wellbeing of our young people”.

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    Mute John Fagan
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    May 26th 2023, 4:45 PM

    Will management be working a seven day roster? I doubt that very much.

    247
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    Mute Mary Conneely
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    May 27th 2023, 12:06 AM

    @John Fagan: they already are.

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    Mute Barbara Coleman
    Favourite Barbara Coleman
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    May 27th 2023, 12:13 PM

    @John Fagan: well if Irish Rail, Dublin Bus already do this – I don’t see why something as important as hospitals don’t do it. Many a bed was taken up by patients who couldn’t go home because the doctor / consultant wasn’t working week ends !

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    Mute Tilal Moore
    Favourite Tilal Moore
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    May 26th 2023, 4:23 PM

    We havent enough staff to cover 5 days. Solution: make them cover 7 days?
    BTW staff always do emergency cover

    199
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    Mute S
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    May 26th 2023, 5:02 PM

    HSE staff are already burnt out. EDs are overflowing with overcrowding normally seen at the height of winter not late Spring/early Summer. I’m not sure what the answer is but it’s not this

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    Mute Mary Walshe
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    May 26th 2023, 7:46 PM

    @S: More home based services for the elderly would be a start. Too many elderly people who are not sick per se, clogging up hospital beds. Pay the carers a decent wage and free up the hospital system. The country never had so much money at its disposal so I can’t see the problem with it.

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    Mute S
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    May 26th 2023, 8:32 PM

    @Mary Walshe: completely agree with you on that. Plus once in the hospitals the medical team order scans and tests that are nearly always not needed, are invasive, uncomfortable, scary and can cause more problems than they can diagnose (eg kidney damage from dye).

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    Mute Gerry Kelly
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    May 26th 2023, 5:15 PM

    Would it not be easier for the govt/HSE to make it illegal for anyone to get sick/have an accident/ have a heart attack/ deliver a baby between Friday afternoon & Monday morning ???

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    Mute Darren Mc Mahon
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    May 26th 2023, 4:13 PM

    Because it makes sense in theory. The reality will be a tricky one.

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    Mute Denis Rathsallagh Brady
    Favourite Denis Rathsallagh Brady
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    May 27th 2023, 2:45 AM

    Try making an appointment with your GP say for a dislocated elbow. I was given a 9 day away appointment. 9 days!
    Told me to go to a hospital if i want to be seen quickly. I asked why its takes so long to get an appointment, her reply : covid.
    This country is ruined by FFG, ruined.

    33
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