Gel Gives Nicotine Fix Through Skin

Jan. 21, 2007 — -- For the first time in history, more than half of Americans now live in a city or state with laws that forbid smoking in workplaces, restaurants or bars.

For the 21 percent of Americans who smoke, that means going outside to light up or switching to the ever-growing number of other nicotine products on the market. First there was nicotine gum, then nicotine water and now there's nicotine hand gel.

Nicogel is already sold in 40 countries and is now available here in the United States at Walgreens. Sales could generate $200 million nationwide this year alone and could reach $1 billion by the end of 2008.

With a recent Harvard study showing nicotine levels in cigarettes at a record high, more and more new products are coming out that only add to America's nicotine addiction and the latest novelty is Nicogel.

Nicogel looks and is applied like antibacterial hand gel but promises an entirely different result. The manufacturer claims rubbing the nicotine-laced gel into the skin will give a quick fix, exactly the high you would get from smoking one cigarette.

"Our product is intended to take all the bioactives of tobacco, take all the components that a smoker is used to getting," said Bill Whalen, CEO of Blue Whale Worldwide.

Nicogel is designed to curb cravings for up to four hours, helping smokers get through that long flight or meeting until the next cigarette.

With smoking bans in effect in dozens of cities, states and public places across the country, cigarette alternatives like Nicogel or Niclite, a nicotine drink, have become the fastest growing segment of the tobacco industry.

"We are going to be in the train stores, the airports, the casinos, hotels -- the places where smoking is difficult," Whalen said.

But opponents say products like these aren't regulated by the government and only enable smokers to avoid quitting.

"What they're doing is trying to help people who might otherwise want to stop smoking to keep their habit up," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe of Public Citizen. "It's sort of helping them keep their addiction, to say nothing of children who could either be attracted to a beverage, Niclight, or they may get into tobacco or into addiction to nicotine by rubbing this stuff on."

Nicogel's manufacturer admits the product isn't meant to help people quit, but claims that replacing cigarettes with Nicogel is good for society by eliminating carcinogens in the lungs and in the air.

"This is something that's going to really help children with second hand smoke and help adults with second hand smoke. Think of all the bartenders and casino workers," Whalen said.

Still experts agree for many smokers nicotine isn't everything; the ritual of lighting up and smoking a cigarette is an addiction in itself.