Hookah Use and Perceptions among Young Adult Hookah Users

Nicole E Nicksic^1*, Christina Ly¹, Alexandra Loukas² and Cheryl L Perry¹

¹University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Austin Campus, 1616 Guadalupe Suite 6.300, Austin, TX 78701, United States

²University of Texas at Austin, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, College of Education, 1912 Speedway, Stop D500, Austin, TX 78712, United States

*Corresponding Author : Nicole E. Nicksic
Department of Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, One Capitol Square Building, 830 E. Main Street, Suite 923, Richmond, VA 23219, United States
Tel: +1 804 628 6076
Fax: +1 804 628 1233
E-mail: nenicksic@vcu.edu

Received: February 02, 2018 Accepted: March 05, 2018 Published: March 12, 2018

Citation: Nicksic NE, Ly C, Loukas A, Perry CL (2018) Hookah Use and Perceptions among Young Adult Hookah Users. J Addict Behav Ther Rehabil 7:2. doi: 10.4172/2324-9005.1000178

Background: Despite declining cigarette use, hookah use has increased substantially among youth and young adults. This is alarming, as hookah can lead to the same health risks as cigarettes and expose users to a high amount of smoke, nicotine, and toxicants. Determining patterns of hookah use and perceptions in young adults is important in prevention efforts. Methods: Structured in-person interviews were conducted for this qualitative study in June 2016. Twenty-three hookah users between the ages of 18 and 29 years living in Austin, TX who were not currently enrolled in a college or university completed the interview. NVivo 11 Pro was utilized to code transcribed transcripts for common themes among participants. Results: When trying hookah for the first time, all participants had used flavored tobacco, with fruit flavors being most popular at initiation and for current use. Many participants initiated hookah use under the age of 18 years old. While only one participant initiated hookah use alone, one-third of participants had smoked hookah alone, not in the company of others. The majority of participants owned or previously owned their own hookah device. Common motivational factors for hookah use involved being social, taste, and the calming/relaxation effect. Participants perceived hookah use to be both harmful and addictive; however, many participants were unsure if hookah was more harmful to health than cigarettes. Conclusion: Young adults who are not currently enrolled in college may have similar hookah use behaviors and risk perceptions as do college students, yet non-college students in this sample are using hookah alone and report owning a hookah device. This study supports the need for research on the effect of policy changes on hookah use, receptivity to warning labels, and programs to correct misperceptions.