by Officer John Thomas

There is a new trend among youth (age 18-24) looking for a new social activity. It is called Hookah. A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke materials including tobacco and dried fruit. Water pipes have been used throughout the Middle East, India and Asia for centuries. According to a 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) report, the hookah was invented during the late 15^th or early 16^th century by a physician in India. This physician incorrectly believed the water would eliminate the negative effects of tobacco.

In the United States, the hookah has been around for a long time but has recently caught on among mainstream youth. This may be because hookah smoking has been presented as safer than cigarettes. It may also be because the materials smoked in a hookah are available in many popular flavors such as fruit or mint. Hookah smoking is found all over the United States but is most prevalent in large population centers. It can be found in clubs, bars and special hookah lounges. The water pipes and supplies are not regulated and are readily available for purchase.

A 2007 report by the American Lung Association (ALA) says 90% of beginning hookah smokers believe cigarette smoking is more addictive than hookah smoking. The substance smoked in a hookah, called Shisha, is most often made from dried fruit. This contributes to the misconception that hookah smoking is not harmful. Some of the harmful substances in hookah smoke come from a small brick of burning charcoal or wood used to heat the Shisha and create the smoke. The water through which the smoke passes before it is inhaled does little or nothing to remove the harmful contents of the smoke, which include the same substances found in cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, tar and heavy metals. The ALA report indicated hookah smoking carries the same health risks as cigarettes.

The ALA study said hookah smokers may have increased exposure to carcinogens because hookah use lasts much longer than smoking a cigarette and the total amount of smoke is as much as 100 times that of smoking 1 cigarette. The report also cites an increased risk of passing disease due to the mouthpiece being shared by multiple users.

The use of hookahs is unregulated at this time. Many of the establishments offering hookahs are exempt from smoke free air laws due to a high percentage of their sales coming from tobacco products. In California, many establishments label their employees “part owners” to be exempt from smoke free workplace laws. Although most health organizations say more study needs to be done, they all seem to agree that smoking hookah poses a significant risk to health. The bottom line is that hookah smoking is not “safe”.

Community Service Officer John Thomas is a long time resident of Temecula and is a Crime Prevention Officer with the Temecula Police Department Crime Prevention Unit. He can be reached at (951) 506-5132.