A story produced by Britnei Bilhete, CBC News, with comments from Nicholas Chadi, December 3, 2025
A CBC News investigation has uncovered outlawed nicotine pouches, in high dosages and fun flavours, are still readily available for sale in corner stores across the country, despite new federal regulations meant to limit their access and deter youth.
In August 2024 the federal government limited the sale of nicotine pouches to pharmacies over growing concerns raised by multiple health groups about their popularity among non-smokers and youth.
Nicotine pouches are highly regulated by Health Canada as natural health products for those 18 and over and are supposed to function as a tool to help people quit smoking. (…)
“Nicotine, in any form, is a risk for a young and developing brain,” said Dr. Nicholas Chadi, a pediatrician and clinician at Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre in Montreal who specializes in adolescent and addiction medicine.
Chadi says he’s seeing more and more young people using pouches in flavours and doses that are not authorized for sale in Canada. He says the fact that the pouches are discreet and deliver a significant amount of nicotine to the body is attractive to youth. He says nicotine can increase alertness, focus, heart rate and bring a pleasurable feeling that lasts 30 to 60 minutes.
But young people can be especially vulnerable to its negative effects. “The younger a person is exposed to nicotine, the higher the risk of eventually developing dependence and addiction,” said Chadi.
“A body can develop dependence and tolerance to nicotine, which means that your body is accustomed to it and if you stop using it, your body and brain is screaming for more.” (Full story here)
Nicholas Chadi MD MPH 
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