New 2025 SHRN data shows regular vaping and smoking have fallen among secondary school learners in Wales. We look at the latest figures, what they mean and why prevention work still matters.
Information / New & emerging products
New & emerging products
Nicotine, vape and drug markets change quickly. This hub helps schools, families, youth workers and communities understand what a product is, what the risks are and where to get reliable help.
Last reviewed: 25 September 2026
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The name on the packet is not always the whole story.
New products can look like ordinary vapes, pouches, strips, sweets or familiar branded items. Illicit products may also contain a different substance from the one advertised. Use reliable information and avoid guessing from appearance alone.
Nicotine products
What is nicotine?
The basics: addiction, relative harm, where nicotine appears and why product type matters.
Nicotine pouches
Tobacco-free pouches placed under the lip, including strength, dependence and the difference between pouches and snus.
Nicotine addiction
How repeated nicotine use changes cravings, withdrawal and behaviour.
Heated tobacco
Tobacco sticks and devices that heat tobacco rather than burn it like a cigarette.
Snus vs nicotine pouches
They look similar, but snus contains tobacco and nicotine pouches do not.
Strips, pearls & new nicotine products
Discreet nicotine formats beyond vapes and pouches that schools and families may start seeing.
Vapes, cannabis & unexpected contents
Spice & synthetic cannabinoids
Why products sold as THC, CBD or cannabis vapes can sometimes contain synthetic cannabinoids instead.
Vaping
A broad guide to health, quitting, young people, legal products and support.
Illegal tobacco & vapes
How illegal products differ from legal retail products and what concerns can be reported.
THC & cannabis vapes
Why illicit cannabis vapes may contain something different from what the label says, including Spice.
What’s in a vape?
What legal e-liquids usually contain, how aerosol is made and what UK product rules require.
Products teachers may hear about
Current and emerging terms include nicotine pouches, snus, nicotine strips, nicotine pearls, THC vapes, CBD vapes, Spice, Mamba, HHC and other semi-synthetic cannabinoids. Some are established product categories; others are street names or rapidly changing substances.
We will keep adding clear explainers here as products change. The aim is to give staff enough information to respond calmly without turning teachers into product investigators.
For schools & youth settings
You do not need to identify every chemical to respond well. Start with what you can see, what the young person says happened and whether anyone is unwell.
Vaping in schools
Practical guidance for school policy, conversations, incidents and support.
School vaping toolkit
Ready-to-use templates and practical materials for Welsh schools.
Nicofiends
Prevention resources that help young people notice pressure, marketing and nicotine tricks.
Reliable Wales-wide support
WEDINOS
Current Welsh information on substances identified through the national drug-testing programme.
DAN 24/7
Free bilingual drug and alcohol information and support for people in Wales, families and professionals.
ASH Wales resources
Lesson plans, leaflets, toolkits and explainers for schools, parents, professionals and communities.