California Tobacco Survey: Hookah Use Increasing

Folks, this is not a safe way to smoke tobacco. It is harmful to you and to the others around you (second hand smoke).

Here is the abstract of the paper:

Increasing Hookah Use in California

Joshua R. Smith, PhD, MPH¹, Steven D. Edland, PhD², Thomas E. Novotny, MD, PhD³, C. Richard Hofstetter, PhD⁴, Martha M. White, MS⁵, Suzanne P. Lindsay, PhD, MSW, MPH⁶ and Wael K. Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD⁷

¹ University of California, San Diego
² University of California, San Diego
³ San Diego State University
⁴ San Diego State University
⁵ University of California, San Diego
⁶ San Diego State University
⁷ University of California, San Diego

Correspondence: waldelaimy@ucsd.edu

Hookah use is gaining popularity nationwide. We determined the correlates and trends for hookah use from the California Tobacco Survey. Between 2005 and 2008 hookah use increased more than 40%, and in 2008, 24.5% of young men reported ever using a hookah. Hookah use was more common among the young (18-24 years), the educated, the non-Hispanic Whites, and the cigarette smokers. Hookah use is increasing in California, especially among young adults, and in 2008 reached the highest prevalence ever reported for both genders. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print August 18, 2011: e1-e3. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300196)

Please....just because you are not smoking cigarettes, the tobacco danger to your health continues. Now, if you are using a hookah for other substances, there are other risks associated with those as well.