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MPR News with Angela Davis
Angela Davis and Nikhil Kumaran

Nicotine usage in 2024: What’s changing?

three cases of oral nicotine pouches
In this photo illustration, ZYN nicotine cases are seen on a table in New York City on Jan. 29.
Photo Illustration by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

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Studies showed this generation was on track to end smoking, with long-running youth tobacco prevention campaigns and decades of research showing the health risks.

However, with the decline of cigarette smoking, the tobacco industry is currently undergoing a smokeless revolution, marketing e-cigarettes and oral nicotine pouches more heavily.

MPR News host Angela Davis and her guests talked about the tobacco and nicotine industry and how it has changed. With the rise of vaping and the growing popularity of oral nicotine pouches like Zyns — there was a lot to unpack.

Guests:

  • Sharrilyn Helgertz is a former senior research scientist for the Minnesota Department of Health. Sharrilyn specializes in collecting and analyzing data around tobacco use among youth and adults in Minnesota.  

  • Mike Sheldon is the commercial tobacco cessation communications coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health. He is also a spokesman from Quit Partner, a free program that offers coaching, medications, texts, emails and other tools to help people quit smoking.

    two people smiling in a hallway
    Sharrilyn Helgertz (left), former senior research scientist for the Minnesota Department of Health, and Mike Sheldon (right), commercial tobacco cessation communications coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Health, pose for a portrait in the Kling Public Media Center in St. Paul on Wednesday.
    Nikhil Kumaran | MPR

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.