SLT: Smokeless Tobacco Products

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Snus and nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among youth as smokeless tobacco (SLT) products. These products are marketed as safer alternatives to traditional smoking and vaping, yet they still pose significant health risks.

Both are discreetly placed under the upper lip, allowing nicotine absorption through the gums. Like vapes, they come in various flavours and strengths, with unregulated nicotine levels leading to inconsistent and misleading labelling.

Smokeless tobacco products and vapes were initially developed to help people quit smoking, but many young people have adopted them, believing them to be safer. The marketing of snus and nicotine pouches targets young audiences through social media influencers, raising concerns about their increasing popularity among school students. Educators and health authorities are advocating for proactive measures to curb this rising trend.

The evolving nicotine landscape requires parents and caregivers to stay informed to protect young people from these emerging threats.

1

Be Informed

Equip yourself with factual information about snus, nicotine pouches, and other SLT products to accurately address any questions or misconceptions that may arise.

2

Engage in honest conversations

Start an early age, and have ongoing dialogue as they grow. Discuss the negative effects of nicotine use, but also emphasise the importance of making informed, healthy choices.

3

Discuss marketing tactics

Highlight how tobacco companies use marketing to glamorise their products to attract and target people like themselves. Discuss the strategies behind promotional campaigns that often place more importance on profits than health and wellbeing.

4

Be an active listener

Show that you’re genuinely interested in your young person’s views and feelings. Encourage them to talk about their perceptions and any peer pressure they may be experiencing.

5

Empower confidence

Arm your child with the knowledge and confidence to resist peer pressure and make decisions that reflect their best interests. Reinforce the importance of taking care of their body, highlighting the irreversible damage nicotine causes.

6

Encourage critical thinking

Teach your child to question the motives behind selling these products and to consider how social media can influence their choices. Encourage them to talk about their perceptions and overall concerns 

7

Set clear expectations

Discuss your family’s stance on drug use, including nicotine. Setting clear expectations can help guide a young person’s behaviour, especially in peer pressure situations.