Nicotine pouches might not be as bad as smoking, but Christian parents need to know about this new fad on the street

Max (a 16-year-old boy) and Ollie (a youth worker in his mid-twenties) are at a youth club for young people aged 11-18. The discussion starts like this…

Max: “Hey Ollie, check this out, this flavour is actually good, you know!”

Ollie: “What is it?”

Max: “It’s Pablo.”

Ollie: “Come again!?”

Like Ollie most of us haven’t heard of Pablo. Pablo (like Cuba and a whole host of others) is part of the recent flurry of nicotine pouches that have colonised the shelves of supermarkets and corner shops. I know! Along with vapes it joins the ever-lengthening list of legal drugs on offer. Whilst not as immediately dangerous as illegal drugs or solvents legal drugs can still have very serious consequences in the long-term. So, what should we make of it this recent fad for some young people.