Waterpipe tobacco smoking: Knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior in two U.S. samples
Authors:
Stephanie Smith-Simone a;
Wasim Maziak b;
Kenneth D. Ward b;
Thomas Eissenberg c
| Affiliations: | a Center for Health and Wellbeing, Princeton University and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, |
| b Department of Health and Sport Sciences and Center for Community Health, University of Memphis, and Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syria | |
| c Department of Psychology and Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University, |
DOI:
10.1080/14622200701825023
Publication Frequency:
12 issues per year
Subjects:
Addiction & Treatment;
Pulmonary Medicine;
Formats available:
HTML
(English)
:
PDF
(English)
The circumstances under which this title is published have changed:
Reason for change: Changed Publisher
Now published by: Oxford University Press
View Article:
View Article (PDF)
View Article (HTML)
Abstract
Despite evidence of increasing waterpipe tobacco smoking prevalence among U.S. young adults, little is known about the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and smoking patterns of waterpipe users in this population. To address this lack of knowledge, two convenience samples of U.S. waterpipe users were surveyed—one from a Richmond, Virginia, waterpipe caf
(n = 101), the other from an Internet forum called HookahForum.com (n = 100). Sixty percent reported first-time waterpipe use at or before age 18. Daily waterpipe use was reported by 19%, weekly use by 41%, and monthly use by 29%. Waterpipe use was more common during the weekend (75%) than during weekdays (43%). Forty-four percent reported spending ≥60 min smoking tobacco during a waterpipe session. The majority of waterpipe users owned a waterpipe (57%) and purchased it on the Internet (71%). Many waterpipe users smoked the sweetened and flavored tobacco (i.e., maassel), and fruit flavors were the most popular (54%). Past month use of cigarettes, tobacco products other than cigarettes or waterpipe, and alcohol was 54%, 33%, and 80% respectively, and 36% reported past-month marijuana use. Most waterpipe users were confident about their ability to quit (96%), but only a minority (32%) intended to quit. Most waterpipe users believed waterpipe tobacco smoking was less harmful and addictive than cigarettes. These results are from small convenience samples; more detailed study of a larger group of randomly sampled U.S. waterpipe tobacco smokers will be valuable in understanding this behavior and developing effective strategies to prevent it.
|
| view references (32) |

Download Citation

(n = 101), the other from an Internet forum called HookahForum.com (n = 100). Sixty percent reported first-time waterpipe use at or before age 18. Daily waterpipe use was reported by 19%, weekly use by 41%, and monthly use by 29%. Waterpipe use was more common during the weekend (75%) than during weekdays (43%). Forty-four percent reported spending ≥60 min smoking tobacco during a waterpipe session. The majority of waterpipe users owned a waterpipe (57%) and purchased it on the Internet (71%). Many waterpipe users smoked the sweetened and flavored tobacco (i.e., maassel), and fruit flavors were the most popular (54%). Past month use of cigarettes, tobacco products other than cigarettes or waterpipe, and alcohol was 54%, 33%, and 80% respectively, and 36% reported past-month marijuana use. Most waterpipe users were confident about their ability to quit (96%), but only a minority (32%) intended to quit. Most waterpipe users believed waterpipe tobacco smoking was less harmful and addictive than cigarettes. These results are from small convenience samples; more detailed study of a larger group of randomly sampled U.S. waterpipe tobacco smokers will be valuable in understanding this behavior and developing effective strategies to prevent it.
CiteULike
Del.icio.us
BibSonomy
Connotea