Hookah Use Among Youth on the Rise in the US: A Growing Public Health Concern

Strategic Insights -

The use of hookah, a form of tobacco, is spreading among youth in the United States, particularly among high school students in San Diego, according to a recent study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research. The study found that 26.1% of surveyed students reported trying hookah, and 10.9% smoked hookah in the past month, which is comparable to the percentage of high school students who smoked cigarettes in the past month. The researchers attribute the rising trend to inaccurate perceptions about hookah's harmfulness, its social acceptability, and the presence of hookah lounges in residential areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study surveyed 689 students from three high schools within San Diego County and found that 26.1% reported trying hookah, with 10.9% smoking hookah in the past month.
  • The most common ways students learned about hookah were from friends (50.3%) and seeing nearby hookah lounges (20.9%).
  • Hookah users had no intention of quitting the habit, with close to one third of users having no intention of quitting.
  • Students believed hookah use to be more socially acceptable than cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco, and thought it was less harmful than these products.
  • The researchers recommend addressing the legality of hookah lounges in California and other states, as the banning of cigarettes with the legality of hookah may suggest an element of reduced risk associated.
  • Policy makers and the tobacco research community should reassess priorities for this age group and address the growing hookah epidemic through continued research, media messaging, and restrictions on hookah lounges.

Statistics:

  • 26.1% of surveyed students reported trying hookah.
  • 10.9% of surveyed students smoked hookah in the past month.
  • Number of students surveyed: 689.
  • Percentage of students who first learned about hookah from friends: 50.3%.
  • Percentage of students who learned about hookah when seeing a nearby hookah lounge: 20.9%.
  • Percentage of hookah users who had no intention of quitting: close to one third.

Sources:

  • "Determinants of Hookah Use among High School Students", published in the April edition of Nicotine and Tobacco Research.
  • University of California, San Diego's Department of Family and Preventive Medicine.
  • University of California, San Diego's School of Medicine.
  • San Diego State University.
  • San Diego County.