After the introduction of a nationwide tobacco policy and its enforcement in most places, the general perception about tobacco use is that we are finally winning the battle against it. However, it seems there is always another loophole that sneaks up on us and the use of tobacco could be on its way to the mainstream again with a very different identity and form.  The centuries-old tradition of smoking from a hookah is widely perceived to be less harmful and addictive than smoking cigarettes, and its use appears to be a new trend.

The Journal of Preventive Medicine in its last publication explained that the smoke passes through gurgling water before the user inhales it, but every risk of cigarette smoking is also associated with water pipes. It is believed that a hookah, which lasts for about 45 minutes, delivers 36 times more tar than a cigarette, 15 times more carbon monoxide and 70 percent more nicotine.  The Harvard Mental Health Letter reports that hookah smoking may be just as addictive and perhaps even more harmful because of the way people smoke while using a water pipe.  Hookah smokers inhale more often and for longer periods than typical cigarette smokers. By puffing longer and in greater volume, a water pipe smoker inhales the equivalent of 100 cigarettes or more during a single water pipe session.

At the request of Erica Weiss from the Hammond Health Center at Ithaca College, four students from my health class did a pilot survey on hookah use and its related issues among students of the college.  Out of 212 students who responded to the survey, almost all of them knew what hookah was.  About half of them reported using hookah at least once a week.  At the national level, the American College Health Association’s survey in 2009 reported more than 11 percent of the total sample (611) from Ithaca College indicated using hookah in the past 1-9 days. These numbers do indicate that hookah is being used at the college, though it is hard to estimate the accuracy of these statistics.

Ithaca College is not the only college to see this rising trend.  The “Commonwealth Times” at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) reported that four different restaurants near its campus offer hookah smoking. The sweet taste of hookah tobacco attracts students, even those who oppose cigarette smoking. Linda Hancock, assistant director of the Office of Health Promotion at VCU, believes that there is a huge misunderstanding with students and the way they underestimate the risk of hookahs.  She added that the myth that the smoke is filtered by the water and therefore does not contain as many harmful chemicals seems to be fairly common. Harvard Health Publications also state that the new fad among college students and other young people is raising public health concerns as it is proven by scientists with decades of evidences that tobacco is bad for health. If young people start using it again, it is indeed going to be another public health dilemma.

Though it seems that this is a new college culture and an avenue to socialize with friends, thinking that it is a benign activity, the ultimate consequence of this behavior is likely to be grave.  Considering the information from this pilot study and the national trend can be a starting point to begin a dialogue in our campus and design specific health promotion and education programs for Ithaca                       College students.   

Srijana Bajracharya  is a professor and the graduate program chair at the Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education. E-mail her at sbajracharya@ithaca.edu.