MISSISSIPPI — A nicotine alternative called Nixodine is increasingly appearing in disposable vapes sold across Mississippi, raising concerns among health educators who say many consumers do not realize familiar-looking products may now contain different, largely unstudied chemicals.

The shift follows Mississippi’s 2025 vaping law, which created a state-run director tied to federal rules. Rather than banning vaping, the law limited which electronic nicotine delivery systems — or ENDS — can be sold in the state. 

Manufactures were required to certify products by Sept. 1, 2025. The Department of Revenue then published a public directory starting Oct. 1. ENDS not listed in that directory can no longer be sold, with a limited sell-through period for retailers. 

Health educators say the regulatory shift reshaped what appears on store shelves — and left many consumers unaware of what changed.

Law limits vape product sales 

The law requires ENDS manufacturers to show each nicotine-containing product meets federal standards, such as authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or a pending premarket tobacco application. 

Products can remain on sale if only their name, branding or packaging changes — a loophole, educators say, that makes it harder for consumers to know if ingredients have changed. 

Some disposable vapes that previously contained nicotine now utilize a lab-created substance marketed as a nicotine alternative. 

Darrius Moore, community program director at the Mississippi State Department of Health, said Nixodine is derived from a vitamin B blend, but its long-term health effects are unknown.  

“It’s a nicotine alternative,” he said. “The thing that needs to be focused on is that this is something that’s lab created.” 

Consumers may miss content changes 

Health educators say the visual similarities between older and newer products can make it harder for consumers to know what they are using. 

“A lot of times when one thing gets restricted in a vape or in a product, they will remarket it and change one little thing — maybe the name or a name and the ingredients — but it looks exactly like the one before,” said Melanie Blanton, a health educator at the Moffitt Health Center at The University of Southern Mississippi. 

Among young adults and regular vape users, confusion over what’s in current products appears common.

“I was not aware of that,” said Moriah Timms, a freshman at William Carey University. “I don’t exactly know the science behind that.” 

Timms said she doesn’t vape but believes awareness is important, especially since vaping is sometimes viewed as less harmful than traditional tobacco products. 

Gavin McGowan, who regularly use vapes, said he hasn’t seen any advertising campaigns to make consumers aware of the change. 

“Not really, to be honest,” he said. “I saw that they just got rid of the vapes, then they became FDA-approved and just went right back, but I didn’t know anything about (the change in chemicals).” 

Health concerns and the unknowns 

Moore said a major concern is that people don’t realize they’re essentially part of the early testing pool for new substances. 

“My concern is that people do not realize that they’re going to be the ones that are going to be the case studies,” Moore said. 

Beyond Nixodine, Moore said, vaping itself carries known risks. According to the American Lung Association, e-cigarette aerosol can contain formaldehyde and heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead — all of which can irritate the lungs and damage respiratory and brain development in younger users. 

“‘Healthy’ and ‘vapes’ just do not belong in the same sentence together,” Moore said. “There’s no way that anyone can say, ‘Oh, if I vape, I’m healthier than someone that smokes.’” 

Blanton said the uncertainty surrounding newer alternatives like Nixodine may add to those risks. 

“They’re putting stuff in their body that they have no idea what the effects are,” she said. 

Health officials recommend consumers pay close attention to branding and packaging:

— Warning labels: Nicotine products must carry a warning. Products with alternatives like Nixodine may only list “adult use.”

— Name changes: Slight brand name shifts can signal formula changes.

— Ingredients: Products not listing nicotine may still contain psychoactive substances.

Health experts say asking questions at the point of sale and reviewing packaging can help consumers make informed decisions. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, help is available. On average, about 1,200 Americans die each day from smoking-related causes. 

For free support, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669).