NYCFL has often highlighted the growing concern about the rise in teen use of nicotine pouches and the challenge it creates when dealing with substance use prevention (even among people in recovery who minimize nicotine use in comparison to other substances). And now, the landscape has expanded to include caffeine pouches, raising new concerns around youth normalization.
A recent BBC report documented this rising phenomenon in which teens and young adults are using these for a rapid caffeine hit directly into the bloodstream. Both pouches are odorless, easy to hide, and perceived by many to be safer than cigarettes, vapes and influencer backed energy drinks.
The teenage brain is wired to crave quick dopamine hits and has underdeveloped impulse control; once they link a pouch with performance, focus, social ease or stress relief, they return to it again and again. There is no barrier to access, just quick relief, anytime, anywhere. And shortcut solutions to calm dysregulation serve only to create long-term dependence.
NYCFL is on the forefront of addressing these modern risks. Through our structured outpatient care, educational resources and family-centric support, parents gain real-world strategies – anchored in professional clinical guidance – to address the rise of both nicotine and caffeine pouches. Group therapy and individual sessions inform clients on coping mechanisms to manage their cravings while family focused meetings often include prevention education, communication skills training and relapse planning, equipping parents with tools to intervene early.
Parents and teens—as well as educators and clinicians— must stay informed, communicate openly, and seek support if needed. By working together, families and communities can help teens make choices that protect their health and well-being for the long term.