Daily Dose: Nicotine Patches

Nicotine patches were created to help beat the habit of smoking but one viewer asks if they are safer than tobacco.

Dr. Lacy Anderson explains in today's Daily Dose.

Nicotine pouches are small bags containing nicotine, water, flavorings, and plant-based fibers, but no tobacco leaf.

This makes them different from other smokeless tobacco products like chewing tobacco or snuff. They are placed between the gum and lip to absorb nicotine without smoking or swallowing.

They are NOT FDA-approved like smokeless tobacco products such as nicotine gum or patches but many people consider them a safer alternative to smoking.

They can cause side effects like gum irritation and addiction and there is some concern that the flavoring options may attract young people and non-smokers who are unaware of the dangers of nicotine.

There isn’t enough data yet to determine whether these products are safer than cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Nicotine has been found to help promote tumor growth so getting off nicotine altogether is probably the safest thing to do. If you need help quitting, you can call 1-800-Quit-Now which is the Oklahoma Tobacco Help Line to give you free Quit Coaching and free nicotine gum, patches, or lozenges. Take care and good luck!