What Zyns are and how they work

Your teen may already know about Zyns, even if you don’t. These discreet little nicotine pouches are popping up in schools, backpacks, and social media feeds, and many parents are only just starting to hear about them. But what makes Zyns so appealing to kids, and how worried should you be if you find them in your home?

In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the rise of Zyns and vaping among teens. With warmth, empathy, and clear-eyed expertise, they explain what Zyns are, why teens are drawn to them, and how parents can respond without overreacting or losing their child’s trust.

💡 YOU’LL LEARN:

- What Zyns are, how they work, and why they’re spreading among teens.

- The neurological and physical risks of nicotine use for developing brains.

- Why teens are vulnerable to marketing claims like “focus,” “confidence,” and “energy”—and how to push back effectively.

- Practical ways to start the conversation: what to ask, what to say, and what not to do.

- How to frame nicotine use as a matter of manipulation and control—so teens see how companies profit from addiction.

- Why matching your reaction to the actual threat level helps maintain trust with your tween or teen.

Parenting in today’s world means staying ahead of trends our generation never faced. This episode equips you with timely insight, expert perspective, and concrete strategies for tackling the Zyns conversation with confidence.

https://keck.usc.edu/news/use-of-nicotine-pouches-increases-significantly-among-u-s-teens/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39002807/

American Lung Association on Zyns: https://www.lung.org/blog/zyn-nicotine-addiction

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Ask Lisa is produced by: https://www.goodtroubleproductions.com

Episode keywords: Zyns, teen nicotine, youth risks, addiction prevention

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