Overview

• From 2010 through 2023 U.S. poison centers logged 134,663 pediatric nicotine poisoning cases with most incidents occurring at home among toddlers under age 2.
• The rate of nicotine pouch poisonings climbed from 0.48 to 4.14 per 100,000 children between 2020 and 2023, representing a 763 percent increase.
• Thirty-nine young children experienced severe symptoms such as respiratory distress and seizures and two toddlers died after ingesting liquid nicotine.
• Nicotine pouches may contain up to 6 milligrams of nicotine per packet, exceed the stimulant dose of a cigarette at low strength and carry no FDA approval or child-resistant packaging.
• Researchers and health organizations are urging secure storage, caregiver education and mandatory child-resistant packaging to curb further accidental ingestions.