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The prevalence of shisha smoking among British university students, smoke intake, and symptoms of addiction
Daniel Jackson, Medical student, Department of Primary Care & General Practice, University of Birmingham
Abstract
Background
Waterpipe/ shisha smoking is a form of smoking common in the Middle East, but relatively uncommon in the west. Recent anecdotal reports suggest that it is becoming common among young British people, particularly those whose ethnic background is Asian.
Methods
We conducted a prevalence survey among Birmingham University students. Additionally, we contacted a sub-group who smoked at least monthly and asked them about symptoms of addiction, attempts to stop smoking, and their views on the health impacts and desirability of shisha smoking. We also surveyed smokers in a shisha café measuring exhaled carbon monoxide (CO) before and after smoking.
Results
937 students participated in the survey. Of these, 38% had tried shisha. 8% of students were smoking shisha at least monthly (defined by the WHO as current use), of which half smoked weekly or more frequently. 9% of students were cigarette smokers, and of these, 30% were current shisha smokers, so most shisha smokers smoked shisha as their only form of tobacco. Of the regular smokers followed up, most smoked at home not in the cafes and would continue after the smoking ban is implemented. 29% had experienced strong urges to smoke shisha, 14% had tried to stop and reverted to smoking again. Nearly all thought shisha smoking was socially acceptable, enjoyable, and healthier than cigarette smoking. There were some small ethnic group differences.
The café survey of 64 people showed that 90% had C0s in the non-smoker range before smoking, with a mean (standard deviation) rise of 31 (25) parts per million (ppm). The sessions lasted a mean (standard deviation) of 29 (11) minutes.
Conclusions
Regular shisha smoking is nearly as common as cigarette smoking in university students but is not viewed in the same way. However, only about 3% are smoking several times a week and few of these have experienced symptoms of addiction. Intakes of CO are very high, suggesting substantial toxin exposure. We may be seeing the start of a new form of smoking epidemic in the UK.
Biography
Daniel Jackson is a medical student in the University of Birmingham with a fondness for travel in the Middle East. He became intrigued by shisha smoking on his travels and used his intercalated BSc year to study shisha in the university, where it was becoming common.
Daniel Jackson
Department of Primary Care & General Practice
University of Birmingham
Birmingham
B15 2TT
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