"Consumer organisations are very important. We demand safer alternatives to cigarettes and have a strong message for our politicians. At the same time, those of us who are young, who never started smoking, must defend our right to use smokeless nicotine." These are the words of Carissa Düring, Sweden Manager for Considerate Pouchers, when we meet during the Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw.
Vejpkollen reports from the Global Forum on Nicotine 2024.
Warsaw. Poland. For a few days, activists and researchers are gathering under one roof to talk about harm reduction for nicotine users. And among the seasoned activists from prohibitionist countries such as Brazil and Mexico, and the fierce debaters from the UK, we find Carissa Düring, Swedish ambassador for nicotine pouches via Conciderate Pouchers and young activist for harm reduction.
"Consumer organisations are very important. We demand safer alternatives to cigarettes and have a strong message for our politicians. At the same time, those of us who are young, who never started smoking, must defend our right to use smokeless nicotine." Says Carissa Düring, Sweden Ambassador for Considerate Pouchers when we meet during the Global Forum on Nicotine in Warsaw.
Promoting smoke-free nicotine use
The Global Forum on Nicotine is an annual conference that attracts nearly 400 researchers, activists and professionals in the field of harm reduction and nicotine. For a few days in Warsaw, Poland, the organisation Knowledge Action Change organises lectures that highlight smokeless nicotine products and their role in helping smokers switch from cigarette smoking to less harmful forms of nicotine use.
"We take a lot for granted"
At least that is the aim. At the same time, the discussions are more and more about addressing concerns and powerlessness in the face of upcoming restrictions and possible bans on the products. Smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes, vejps and nicotine pouches are high on the ban list in many countries.
"In Sweden, we take most things for granted. We probably think we can keep our nicotine pouches forever. Along with snus, they have become a part of our everyday lives. But given what's happening in other EU countries, it's becoming increasingly clear that they could actually disappear here too." says Carissa Düring, active in the international organisation Considerate Pouchers.
The Swedish nicotine
It's not the first time Carissa Düring has visited GFN. And it won't be the last either. She has been part of several panels, not only as a representative of Considerate Pouchers, a consumer organisation that wants to spread the word about nicotine pouches to other countries than just Sweden and Scandinavia, but also just as a "Swede".
"Yes, I often feel that I represent nicotine pouch users as much as Sweden in general. We are quite unique in the world, considering how few people smoke here. Snus has played a part. But a lot of it is also due to my generation - we never started smoking and went straight to nicotine pouches or vejps instead." says Carissa Düring.
Part of a larger context
According to Carissa During, nicotine users, especially those who are young today, are at the centre of the debate. "In the global context, the focus has so far been on e-cigarettes and vapes. But since the rise in popularity of nicotine pouches, things look a little different.
"Most people talk about vejps, as it is the best known product internationally. But both products are part of a larger context. But, yes, I often have to explain what nicotine pouches actually are, their connection to snus, and why they are popular among young users in Sweden," says Carissa During.
Activist by chance
Her own involvement with nicotine pouches started mostly by chance, she says.
"I have been involved in politics for quite some time. Among other things in the international movement "Students for liberty". We met down on the continent and there was a lot of smoking at the parties. They were held outdoors, sometimes just to smoke. I don't smoke and found it cold to be outside all the time, so I started sharing my nicotine pouches. If only so we could be inside instead. It became a bit of a thing in the end. I took a few packs with me each time and handed them out to the smokers. They didn't really know what it was, so I had to educate them a bit. Somewhere along the line, I really started to realise that we young people have something special here in Sweden - that few other countries have."
Nicotine pouches internationally
And so it went on. Carissa During became a kind of ambassador in a small way. But it did attract some attention. Soon, the newly established organisation Considerate Pouchers got in touch. Considerate Pouchers was started as a citizens' initiative to raise awareness of harm reduction in general, and nicotine pouches in particular, in the UK.
"They wanted to spread the organisation and asked me to become an ambassador in Sweden. I am now one of three ambassadors in three countries" says Carissa Düring.
"The first generation that never smoked"
She's quite easy to find in the crowd of well-travelled activists and researchers in the conference hall. Not just because she keeps to herself and talks to people everywhere. She is also relatively young. She is studying to be a psychologist in Uppsala. Now that her studies are over for the semester, she has more time for involvement. And she believes that more young consumer voices are needed in the debate on nicotine.
"I'm probably one of the youngest people here, I would think. There is so much fear around touching this issue when it comes to us younger people. We are the first generation that never smoked cigarettes. We went straight to the white snuff or vejps. Nowadays, you hardly ever see anyone smoking at parties anymore. I think that those who want to make progress in the debate must dare to talk about it. It doesn't seem to matter whether they are banned or not - people, especially young people, get hold of these products anyway."
Sweden a working example
However, she notes that Sweden stands out in several ways, not least in terms of regulation and restrictions.
"We have a regulatory framework in place and it's important to emphasise that. We have age limits, restrictions on marketing and so on. It's very important from a long-term perspective. I think this applies to all harm-reducing nicotine products. I hear from activists from other parts of the world that it is primarily about getting the products legalised. This is far from our situation in Sweden. But at the same time, as an activist, it's very useful to have Sweden as a working example to show," says Carissa Düring.
