Prevalence and Frequency of the Use of Nicotine Pouches and Its Association With Stress Amongst Students of Medical and Non-Medical Universities of Karachi, Pakistan

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Oral Nicotine Pouches (NPs) are one of the fastest-growing products among young adults, being actively marketed by companies through catchy advertisements. Owing to the easy availability and concealed usage, there is a high chance that these could become an addiction very soon. The objective of our study was to assess the prevalence of Nicotine Pouch consumption and its association with the perceived stress of an individual being a reason behind its usage. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at various universities in Karachi, Pakistan. The study population comprised Undergraduate students aged between 18 and 25. Data were collected through self-administered forms. RESULTS The majority of the participants lied in the 20–21 age group and belonged to a medical field of study. 61.8% of the students were aware of this product, however, only 10.2% were active users of the Oral NPs. Moreover, the PSS scores indicated that females were overall more stressed than males. The mean PSS score was 19.637. CONCLUSION In conclusion, it is the need of the hour to raise awareness for such products as the youth is likely to try Oral NPs while being unaware of the potential harm it could bring with long-term use. Undergraduates must also be given guidance to help them cope with stress, which proves to be a significant risk factor associated with addiction to nicotine-containing products.