More and more US teenagers are using caffeine pouches to get an energy boost, and experts are concerned that the potentially dangerous trend will reach the UK, writes the BBC.
The small, tea bag-like pouches are placed between the lips and gums, quickly delivering caffeine directly into the bloodstream. Some social media influencers are promoting the products, recommending them to gym-goers for better performance or students who want to concentrate better during exams. The pouches are sold on the social media platform TikTok in a variety of flavours, which are particularly appealing to younger consumers. Dr Rob van Dam from George Washington University says that since one pad contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, it is easy to take in too much caffeine, which can cause bad side effects.
Caffeine pouches are inconspicuous, making them easy to hide from parents or teachers. Some users of the product boast online that they use multiple pouches at once to get the desired effect. Because caffeine is absorbed quickly, the effects can start within minutes and last for hours. Van Dam told BBC News that young people have a lower tolerance for caffeine, and
there is a risk of hospitalization if they take too much.
Why caffeine? It is a stimulant that can make you feel more alert and less sleepy. Because caffeine can make exercise seem easier, it has become a popular dietary supplement among athletes. During exercise, adenosine is released, which makes you feel tired, and caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the nerves, reducing feelings of pain and weakness. However, caffeine also affects other parts of the body, including the cardiovascular system, which can be risky. High levels of the stimulant can cause rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeats and even seizures. Although very rare, deaths from caffeine overdose have also been recorded.
The generally safe dose for a healthy adult is considered to be 400 milligrams of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to about four cups of instant coffee. Tea contains slightly less caffeine. Pregnant women are advised to limit their caffeine intake to 200 milligrams per day, and children and adolescents should also be careful with caffeine-containing products. This is why the law in the European Union requires most energy drinks to carry a warning on their packaging that they are not suitable for children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women.
Van Dam noted that it is easy to consume too much caffeine, as it is found in many drinks and some foods, and it is important to monitor your intake. He added that it is very difficult to overdose on coffee alone, but the pouches make the process faster, especially if young people also use energy drinks. In addition, sometimes, when testing the product in the laboratory, it is revealed that it contains more caffeine than stated on the package.
Dentists say that using caffeine pouches can irritate the gums, and experts are also concerned that using caffeine pouches can be the first step to switching to snuff or nicotine pouches.
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