A groundbreaking study shows nicotine pouches are transforming how women quit smoking in Sweden, the world's first smoke-free country.
The research from Smoke Free Sweden showed tobacco-free nicotine pouches have created a dramatic shift in smoking patterns since 2016.
Women are now quitting cigarettes at rates nearly 200% higher than before.
The report Power in a Pouch was released this week and it shows how these small pouches have outperformed traditional quit aids by significant margins.
Women rated nicotine pouches almost three times higher than vapes as a quitting tool.
They also ranked pouches 56% higher than nicotine gum for effectiveness.
"The evidence is crystal clear: nicotine pouches are the most effective way to help smokers — especially women — quit," said the study’s co-author Dr. Marewa Glover, a New Zealand behavioural scientist.
The pouches appeal to women because they are discreet and socially acceptable.
Unlike cigarettes or vapes, they produce no smoke, vapour, or odour.
Users simply place them between their lip and gum.
Sweden's approach differs sharply from other countries that have banned or heavily restricted nicotine pouches.
Instead, Swedish health officials embraced harm reduction strategies that recognize safer alternatives to cigarettes.
The results speak for themselves.
Smoking among Swedish women has dropped 49% since nicotine pouches became available.
This represents a major breakthrough, as women historically quit smoking at lower rates than men.
The health benefits of Sweden becoming a smoke-free country are already visible across the population.
Male lung cancer deaths in Sweden are 61% below the European Union (EU) average.
Total cancer deaths are 34% lower than the EU average.
Dr. Delon Human, who leads Smoke Free Sweden and formerly served as Secretary-General of the World Medical Association, warns that excessive regulation could reverse this progress.
"Misguided bans are blocking access to products that save lives," said Human.
"That's not just bad policy — it's a public health disaster."
The researchers emphasize that women deserve access to quitting tools that match their preferences and lifestyles.
Traditional methods often fail because they do not address the social and practical barriers women face when trying to quit.
"When women can choose clean, stigma-free options, quit rates soar," said Glover.
"Denying access means condemning another generation to smoking-related death."
The contrast between Sweden's open approach and restrictive policies elsewhere is stark.
In Canada, nicotine pouches like Zonnic are restricted to pharmacy sales only and limited to mint, menthol, or unflavoured.
Canada’s regulatory framework significantly limits access compared to Sweden's more “easy access” system.
The study's authors urge policymakers worldwide to examine Sweden's success story carefully.
They argue that evidence-based harm reduction strategies could save millions of lives globally.
"Policymakers must follow Sweden's lead — or be complicit in preventable deaths on a massive scale," said Human.
