Issue date: 11/3/08 Section: Money/Health

Sophomore Jon Stagg was hanging out with his friends when they brought out a hookah. Despite not knowing the effects of it, he decided he would participate in the tobacco smoking because many of his friends had smoked hookah before.

Stagg is one of a large number of students who use hookahs on a frequent basis. Despite how popular they are among college-aged people, there are many people who do not know what hookahs do or how they work.

What is a hookah?

A hookah is a water-based pipe used for smoking. Smoking a hookah requires the person to use a hose to suck air and smoke from the hookah. The tobacco is placed in the bowl at the top of the hookah. A piece of burning charcoal is placed on top of the tobacco, but is separated by a thin layer of perforated tinfoil designed to minimize the inhalation of coal ash. When air is sucked through the hose, the air is heated by the charcoal, which is then passes through the tobacco. This creates smoke that eventually passes through the hose after passing the water jar.

People trace the origin of hookahs to India hundreds of years ago. Hookahs are still used to this day in religious ceremonies, social gatherings and just for recreation. Since their introduction, hookahs have gained in popularity around the world, including modern-day colleges. Hookahs, due to the increase of hookah shops and the growing hatred of cigarettes, are still growing in popularity.

"In 'Alice in Wonderland' they were smoking hookah … that's probably where most of us saw hookahs for the first time - in a cartoon," said Deborah Wright, a Student Health Services nurse practitioner.

Popularity

The Stones Throw, 304 Eau Claire St., features a weekly hookah lounge, and hookah groups can be seen smoking tobacco at various parts on campus and throughout Eau Claire. Junior Dustin Greelis is a student who enjoys smoking hookah.

"I've smoked hookah about three or four times," Greelis said. "It's very relaxing."

Despite their popularity, not every hookah smoker owns a hookah. Greelis said he has no plans of purchasing a hookah, but does plan to continue smoking with them.

"If somebody doesn't mind having an extra person (smoking hookah), I might as well," he said.

Hookahs can be used to smoke a variety of substances, such as various types of tobacco, marijuana and herbal fruits to name a few. People primarily smoke tobacco out of their hookahs, Greelis said.

"(The tobacco) is really cheap," he said. "It depends on who you smoke with and whose tobacco you smoke with. Some will ask you to throw in a couple (dollars), but others won't mind."

Health Risks

Are there any negative side effects to smoking hookah despite its popularity?

"The tobacco part is not good for you, but the social part is," Wright said.

Stagg acknowledges that college students think hookah smoke is safer than other forms of tobacco.

"The fact that you're smoking it through a water pipe makes it seem much less harsh and people think that there is a lot less bad stuff in it," he said, adding that the tar taken in with the smoke is not mentioned on the labels because it is not on the tobacco, but is a result of burning it.

"I don't think there is a tobacco that is better than others," Wright said. "There are tobaccos that are worse than others, but I don't believe there is one that can be considered 'better.'"

According to a 2005 USA Today article, hookah sessions deliver more tar, carbon monoxide and nicotine than a single cigarette. A hookah session, which the article estimates lasts 45 minutes, involves much more smoke than a cigarette, but there are still some alarming facts pointed out in the article. The article stated that smokers who use water pipes, such as a hookah, are five times more likely to develop gum disease and five times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers.

"It has similar effects to smoking cigarettes," Wright said, adding that the additives in hookah tobacco depend on the type.

Despite knowing some of the negative effects hookahs can pose, students still choose to smoke.

"On rare occasions, I'll continue to smoke hookah," Greelis said. "Our age group doesn't seem to care as much about their future health as (older people) do. Most people our age drink heavily too."

Greelis may only smoke hookah occasionally, but there are other students who smoke more often. Stagg, Greelis's roommate, claims to have smoked hookah much more often than Greelis.

"I'd recommend not (smoking) at all. The problem with tobacco is that it is addicting to some people. As a health professional, I really don't think you should smoke tobacco," Wright said, adding that when smokers use the same hose, they also transfer germs between each other.

Greelis, who also smokes cigars, plans to continue smoking hookah recreationally despite being informed of the negative effects.

"I just think 'I want to have a good time tonight,'" he said. "I would guess that probably 8 percent (of college students) smoke hookah."

Legality

Despite how common they are, many people still have questions about hookahs. Are they legal? Does the recent smoking ban Eau Claire enacted affect hookah smoke? Why can the smokers smoke on campus?

"I think that (hookahs) are portrayed in a negative light because you can smoke marijuana out of them," Greelis said. "Their effects on the body don't help either."

On July 1, the city of Eau Claire banned smoking in public buildings. This, for the most part, does not affect hookah smokers. Since the majority of hookah smokers smoke outside or in the privacy of their homes, the ban does not affect them.

Smoking is not allowed inside any of UW-Eau Claire's buildings and is prohibited within 25 feet of the dorms.

Despite having negative side effects, hookah smoking might be developing into something students will depend on for socialization.

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