What is snus?

Many young people use snus because it seems harmless at first glance. You don’t have to smoke it, there’s no noticeable smell, and you can even use it in class or while driving without anyone noticing. It's also commonly used by athletes or students who believe it helps them concentrate better or stay ‘sharp’.

Snus experience

Here’s a user experience:

“I use it daily, mainly at work. No one is bothered by it, few people even know what it is, and I get my daily dose of nicotine. I find it convenient, and sometimes even enjoyable.”

The long-term effects of snus are still being researched, but Scandinavian studies suggest regular use may lead to:

• Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
• Potential damage to the oral mucosa
• Dependency that is difficult to reduce
• In young people: effects on brain development

Since snus is often used without supervision or warning, there’s a high risk of unnoticed overuse—especially among young users who may underestimate its effects.

Snus contains nicotine, a substance that affects both your brain and body. As soon as you place snus under your lip, the nicotine is absorbed through the mucous membrane into your bloodstream. Within minutes, you may feel:

• A sense of alertness or mild euphoria
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Sometimes dizziness or nausea, especially for beginners

Like smoking, snus provides a temporary kick, but the effect wears off quickly. This leads to a strong urge to use again—a sign of early nicotine addiction.

Although snus doesn’t involve smoke and therefore doesn’t directly impact your lungs, that doesn’t mean it’s harmless. Snus remains an addictive product with potential health risks. Excessive use may also lead to sleep issues or even anxiety. You might wonder: how long does snus work? Snus typically kicks in after about 30 minutes (depending on the dose) and lasts for around 30 to 40 minutes.

Unlike cigarettes, snus doesn’t contain tar or carbon monoxide, meaning you’re not inhaling harmful smoke substances. In that sense, it’s less damaging to the lungs than smoking. However, “less harmful” doesn’t mean “healthy.” Snus is still an addictive product with considerable health risks. Moreover, using snus can lead to the use of other nicotine products such as vapes or cigarettes—a phenomenon known as the “gateway effect.”

Snus contains finely ground tobacco powder and is also known as “Swedish snus” due to its origin. A nicotine pouch, on the other hand, is something different: it contains no tobacco, only nicotine and flavoring powder. In the Netherlands, nicotine pouches are more commonly used than snus. The terms “snus” and “nicotine pouches” are often confused, even by sellers. Here, we use the word “snus” to refer to tobacco-free nicotine pouches. In that sense, snus is more of a tobacco substitute.

In the Netherlands, it is illegal to sell snus containing tobacco, but possession and use are not punishable. Still, it’s important to know that snus is often purchased via unreliable webshops or imported from abroad, meaning you can never be sure what exactly is inside.