Nicotine is being touted as a wonder drug online, alarming health experts

Nicotine use is rising in young people Nicotine use among youth and young adults is rising according to the Centers for Disease Control with nicotine pouch use by people under 21 nearly quadrupling from 2022 to 2025. Nicotine is the highly addictive chemical stimulant found in tobacco. In 2024, almost 8% of high schoolers said they had used an e-cigarette in the past month, and more than 2% had used nicotine pouches. Some place the rise in use on health influencers on social media, who say nicotine has natural benefits such as better focus or claim it can prevent Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. Others say nicotine is a better alternative to smoking tobacco, since its non-carcinogenic and comes in fun flavors like mint and now fruit, approved by the Food and Drug Administration last month. Even U.S. Health and Human Services director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last year that nicotine pouches are "probably the safest way to consume nicotine." But is there any safe way to consume nicotine? Many health experts are concerned about this reframing, and its impact on young people. On Thursday's "Sound of Ideas," we'll ask local public health officials about this trend and ask about the role of nicotine on our health. Guests:- David Margolius, M.D., Public Health Director, City of Cleveland- Erika Trapl, Ph.D., Behavioral Epidemiologist & Professor, Case Western Reserve University- Wendy Hyde, Ohio Regional Director, Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation/Tobacco21 & Assistant Professor, Baldwin Wallace University- Ernest Williams, Barber, Polished Professionals & Graduate, Freedom From Smoking The Menu: Food Trucks Summer is underway, and communities are coming together for neighborhood celebrations, outdoor events and local festivals. Food trucks have become a staple of many of those gatherings, offering everything from regional favorites to inventive new flavors. We'll take a closer look at Northeast Ohio's food truck scene and its growing popularity. This is the latest installment of The Menu, our biweekly segment all about Northeast Ohio food produced in partnership with Cleveland Magazine. Guests:- Matt Maroon, Owner, Happy Camper Bar Car- Isabella Sugar, Managing Partner, CLE Chicken Food Truck & Catering- Delicia Dixon, Owner, The Urban Wrap Co.- Daniel Subwick, Director, Parks and Recreation, City of South Euclid