Trending in Cali: Out With Cigs, In With Hookahs

Photo by Jan Krömer via Flickr.

While cigarette smoking declines dramatically in California, another method of puffing is on the rise, especially among young adults - hookah use.

A study by the American Journal of Public Health released last week states that between 2005 and 2008, hookah use by California adults spiked to more than 40%. The study also shows that hookah use is more common among "the young (18-24 years), the educated, the non-Hispanic Whites, and the cigarette smokers."

In 2008 California hookah use saw the highest prevalence ever reported for both males - 11.2% - and females - 2.8%, reports California Watch. Young adults between the ages of 18 and 24 show the highest numbers: 24.5% of men and 10% of women in that age bracket used a hookah in 2008.

Health professionals are stunned (and most likely appalled) by these findings.

"We were alarmed and rather surprised," said Wael Al-Delaimy, co-author of the study and chief of the global health division at UC San Diego's Family and Preventive Medicine Department. "While cigarette smoking is declining … this is going up."

Let's take a quick step back in case you're not familiar with this trend. Hookahs are "glass pipes used to smoke water-cooled tobacco that is typically flavored." Sound tempting?

"The education level about it is very low," said Al-Delaimy.

Earlier this year, Al-Delaimy published a study that found 59.5 percent of high school students believed a hookah was more socially acceptable than cigarettes, and 46.3 percent believed it was safer. About 26 percent of the students, all from San Diego County, said they had smoked a hookah before.

The trend is under attack.

Al-Delaimy and friends asked policymakers to consider bans on hookah lounges, "which they said imply that hookah smoking is safer and more socially acceptable than cigarette smoking." Authoritative ears apparently listened. Numerous California cities and counties have since enforced restrictions on hookah lounges, and laws targeting the habit are increasing.

"Smoking hookah is not safe; it's a tobacco product, it's harmful to your health and to people around you," said Paul Knepprath, VP of advocacy for the American Lung Association in California. "It needs to be made crystal clear that hookah is tobacco and carries with it the same risks for lung disease and other health problems (as) any other tobacco product, like cigarettes and cigars."

What's the hookahllure, California?