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Staying Ahead of the Hookah

Friday, 31 January 2014 08:25

Public Health puts out a warning about the growing popularity of water pipe smoking.

While cigarette use amongst teens may be on the decline, it appears hookah use is rising.

Oxford Public Health says they haven't received any complaints locally, but a 2013 Ontario Drug Use and Health Survey done by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health says 10 percent of Ontario teens in grades 7-12 have tried the water pipes.  With the fad catching on, several cities across Canada, including Brantford, have created bylaws banning hookah smoking in public places.

Tobacco Control Coordinator for the County, Dominique Bruce says there isn't a lot of information about what goes into hookah.  "Sometimes there's nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar and heavy metals, so really it's not any less harmful than cigarettes and because they're being used for long periods of time.  Each session that they use the hookah, or water pipe, they actually get a lot of carbon monoxide and chemicals."

Bruce says whether it's tobacco, or herbal, the second hand smoke effects are the same, and that's not the only concern.  "If it's a group of people using it...if they're not cleaned properly you also run the risk of other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, meningitis and things like that because people are using it and passing it around."

Bruce says hookah is a flavoured product targeting youth which is likely to entice teens to try cigarettes as well.

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