Hipsters Turn to Hookahs & Pipes

For decades, when it came to smoking prevention, the focus was on keeping kids away from cigarettes and marijuana as well as harder drugs that you can smoke like heroin or crack. While parents were busy warning against the dangers of cigarettes, two new dangerous habits have snuck in, drawing the attention of teens and young adults. Hookahs and pipes are finding popularity among a new generation of hipsters who think the habits are less dangerous.  

Hookahs

A hookah is a water pipe used to smoke specialty tobacco – often flavored to make it more palatable – that works by indirectly heating the tobacco. While relatively new to the U.S., the hookah has a long history in the Middle East and Asia. The habit is seen as something social, with hookah bars and cafes popping up stateside and usage on the rise.  

Unfortunately, there’s a misperception among the youth engaging in this behavior that hookah smoking is safer than cigarettes because the smoke is filtered through water, but water pipe smoking carries the same serious health effects as smoking cigarettes. There is also an increased risk of cancers of the lower lip, esophagus and stomach from a water pipe.  

Pipe Smoking

Among college kids, pipe smoking is also enjoying a resurgence. The paraphernalia has drawn a new, younger audience, who again erroneously see the habit as less dangerous than cigarette smoking.  

While tobacco may not be as dangerous as harder drugs, the idea that any harmful and addictive substance can be used regularly with little or no consequences is cause for concern by those in the treatment and recovery community. 

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