When You Find Nicotine Pouches

Nicotine pouches are addictive, and from 29 October 2026 no one may sell them to anyone under 18.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 11 to 18.

Where to start

Ask how often your teenager uses pouches, where they get them, and what ads they’ve seen.
Keep pouches out of younger children’s reach: nicotine is a poison in larger doses.
If your teenager wants to stop, ask a pharmacist or the GP about nicotine replacement.
If your teenager is selling pouches, or someone older is giving them pouches, money or a phone, someone may be exploiting them, and exploited children are victims first. Don’t confront the people involved yourself. Act that day: a national child protection helpline will talk it through with you and tell you whether it needs to go further. NSPCC, 0808 800 5000. Email help@nspcc.org.uk. Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. Help is free.
Nicotine is a poison in larger doses, so keep pouches where younger children can’t reach them. If a child swallows one, get medical help straight away, even if they seem well. Call 999. Or go to your nearest A&E. Help is free and available at any hour. Do not try to make them sick.

The rest of the tip, and why it works, is in the library.

Sources

Action on Smoking and Health, Nicotine pouches (2026 youth and adult surveys); Action on Smoking and Health, ASH calls for swift legislation on nicotine pouches (2025); Welsh Government, Selling vaping and nicotine products (2026); NHS Better Health, Young people and vaping (2026); FRANK, Nicotine; NHS, Poisoning (reviewed June 2025); Home Office, Criminal exploitation of children and vulnerable adults: county lines (2023)

It goes with

When They Stop Talking to You. For parents whose teenager hardly talks to them any more.
The Conversations Parents Avoid. For parents who need to tell their child something hard and don’t know how to start.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

Behaviour. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
Difficult conversations. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.