Many smokers contemplate making the move to smokeless substitutes, such as nicotine pouches. Users could be confused about which nicotine intensity to select while making the switch from tobacco to no tobacco. The strength of nicotine pouches and cigarettes are contrasted in this article to help you make a comparison.
Intensity
While both cigarettes and nicotine pouches contain nicotine, they deliver it to your body differently. A typical cigarette contains 10-15mg of nicotine, but you only absorb roughly 2mg when you smoke it. This is because some nicotine burns away and how you smoke affects absorption.
Nicotine pouches, on the other hand, contain less nicotine (around 6mg) but release it steadily over 45-60 minutes. Studies suggest you absorb about 31% of the available nicotine, which again comes out to around 2mg.
Therefore, even though cigarettes have more nicotine, you end up absorbing roughly the same amount (2mg) from both a pouch and a cigarette. However, it’s important to remember that nicotine is an addictive substance harmful to your health, and its impact can vary depending on your tolerance and usage patterns.
Strength
Nicotine pouches come in different strengths, so it’s hard to say definitively if they have more nicotine than cigarettes. “Normal” pouches usually have 6mg of nicotine, while a typical cigarette might have 12mg. However, not all the nicotine is absorbed from either product. Your body only takes in about 1mg from a cigarette and potentially half from a pouch.
Therefore, regular and low-strength nicotine pouches likely deliver similar or less nicotine than cigarettes. However, since stronger pouches exist, they can potentially have more nicotine than cigarettes. Ultimately, it depends on the specific product you choose.
How does the nicotine release differ?
The way smokers get nicotine and the way nicotine pouches deliver it is different. This is because you use them in different ways. Cigarettes release their nicotine quickly, giving you a strong feeling. Nicotine pouches, on the other hand, take longer to release their nicotine, but they actually deliver more of it in total. So, even though cigarettes give you a faster kick, pouches end up giving you more nicotine overall.
Flavors:
In the past, cigarettes came in two flavors: plain tobacco and menthol, which has a minty taste. However, menthol cigarettes are no longer allowed in the UK. Nicotine pouches, on the other hand, come in many different flavors, like Boltbe’s raspberry, mint, and orange. This variety of flavors is meant to be more appealing to people who are trying to quit smoking cigarettes and switch to a different option.
Summary
A cigarette lets you take in 2 milligrams (mg) of nicotine over the 6-7 minutes it takes to smoke it. That’s like a quick burst of energy. On the other hand, it takes much longer, up to 45 minutes or even more, to absorb the same amount of nicotine from a pouch. This slower release might help you avoid reaching for another cigarette as quickly because you don’t get that immediate rush.
