According to a study by researchers at the Israel Ministry of Health in Jerusalem, Israel, water-pipe smoking, also known as narghile smoking, is on the rise among teens across the world. Because of the growing influence of Eastern and Arab cultures in the United States, this type of smoking could become a trend among teens in America.
What is water-pipe smoking?
A typical water pipe has a head, metal body, glass bottle, and a flexible tube with a mouthpiece on the end. A dark paste of tobacco - often flavored with fruits or oils - is placed in the head of the pipe. The pipe is partially filled with water, and burning charcoals are placed close to the tobacco. The resulting smoke passes through the water, then into the tube. The smoker inhales through the mouthpiece.
Water pipes are often smoked in groups, and smoking sessions usually last between 45 to 60 minutes.
How many people practice it?
Some studies estimate that more than 100 million people across the world smoke water pipes. It is more prevalent in cultures in the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and some regions of China. In some countries, there may be less of a social stigma associated with narghile smoking, compared to cigarette smoking. In a study of about 6,000 Israeli middle and high school students, more than one third reported they'd smoked a water pipe. In France and other European nations, more teens are smoking narghile than in the past. It is not known how many teens and adults smoke water pipes in the United States, but water-pipe smoking bars have opened in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities.
Does it cause health problems?
Scientific studies suggest that water-pipe smoke is at least as dangerous as cigarette smoke. Because water-pipe smokers tend to smoke for long periods of time, tend to inhale more deeply, and tend to puff frequently throughout the smoking session, they may absorb higher concentrations of the nicotine, tar, and heavy metals found in tobacco than cigarette smokers do.
Cancer, lung function problems, and increased risk of infection (from sharing the mouthpiece) have been reported in water-pipe smokers. Infertility in males and problems with low birth weight in babies whose mothers smoked water pipes have also been reported.
How do teens feel about water-pipe smoking?
In one study of Israeli students, at least 50% thought that water-pipe smoking was less harmful than cigarette smoking. Teens held common misconceptions about water-pipe smoking, such as that it involved less nicotine exposure than cigarettes, that the water filtered out the toxic chemicals, that it was less irritating to the respiratory tract, and that the tobacco contained fruit, so it was healthy.
Teens said they smoked because it brought them pleasure, it helped them feel intimate at a social gathering, it helped them deal with pressure, and because it helped them to be accepted by their peers.
What This Means to You: In teens, smoking is the leading preventable cause of future death and disability. This report identifies a possible smoking trend among teens called water-pipe smoking and some of the health risks associated with it. Some teens may be offered the opportunity to try water-pipe smoking, so as a parent it's a good idea to know about teen smoking trends - and how you can help your teen avoid them. Talk to him or her about how to respond to peers or others who encourage smoking. You can also teach him or her phrases to use to say no to cigarettes, if offered. If your child smokes and you need help getting him or her to quit, talk to your child's doctor.
Source: Barry Knishkowy, MD, MPH; Yona Amitai, MD, MPH; Pediatrics, July 2005
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: July 2005
