Is dissolvable tobacco safe?

Flavored, dissolvable tobacco products are becoming more and more popular among youth and current smokers facing smoking bans. In fact, they are often marketed as an alternative to smoking in places where smoking is prohibited. These products deliver nicotine as they dissolve or disintegrate in the user’s mouth. They currently appear in various United States markets as strips, orbs, sticks, and lozenges.

These products are new to the US market, and little research is available on them at this time. Studies have shown that the main ingredients are nicotine and then flavoring compounds or binders (See “What does nicotine do?” in the section “Is smoking tobacco really addictive?” for more on the dangers of this ingredient).

Little is known about the health effects of these products, but it’s clear that they are another way for people, especially youth, to experiment with tobacco products and become addicted to nicotine.