223578 Hookah use: A new gateway drug to cigarette smoking

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Bengt Arnetz, MD, PhD, MPH, MscEp , Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Dalia Elsouhag, MD , Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Monty Fakoury, MPH , Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Judith Arnetz, PhD, MPH , Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Hikmet J. Jamil, MD, MSc, PhD, FFOMI , Department of Family Medicine & Public Health Sciences, Division of Occupational & Environmental Health, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
Background: Hookah (water pipe) smoking is increasingly popular in the United States. Hookah is by many laymen considered less hazardous to ones, although a typical hookah session exposes the person to up to 30 times more toxins. Of great concern is the apparent increase of hookah use among adolescents. Methods: We distributed a validated survey to a total of 955 of which 904 was returned with complete data The respondents represented 74 zip codes from Southeast MI. The average age was 35.94 (S.D. 14.82) . The ethnic make-up was: Chaldean, 39.0%, African, 11.2, and Arab, 49.8%. Different statistics were applied.

Results: The proportion of hookah smokers was highest among Arab (41.6%), followed by Chaldean (30.7), and African (10.9). Participants got hookah mainly from hookah stores . Smoking occurred mainly at t home (45%). Almost 50% smoked hookah with their family. Socialization was the most cited reason for smoking hookah (34.6%), while stress was (9.8%). 55% of respondents considered hookah less harmful than cigarettes, and 52% considered second-hand hookah smoke safe. Men were more likely to use hookah than women (OR=2.49; 95% CI 1.74-3.56). Arab were more likely to smoke hookah than Chaldean (OR=1.45; 95% CI 1.02-2.07).. 30% of all smokers had no intention of doing so.

Conclusions: People believe that Hookah smoke is less harmful than cigarettes. The favorable view of hookah and lax regulation and absence of public health anti-hookah smoking campaigns increases the risk for hookah to become a new gateway drug, especially among adolescents.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Provision of health care to the public
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
• To learn more about the perception of hookah smokers mainstream communities in Southeast Michigan in order to plan for a cessation program • The audiences will learn the behavioral and cultural characteristics of the different ethnic groups.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Drug Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NA

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: M.D., MPH, Ph.D.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.