UK: Shisha pipe smoking popular with teens

GPs in a city say they are seeing an increase in teenagers with health problems linked to shisha pipe smoking...

Qasim Chowdary, a PCT smoking cessation adviser, said the increase in pipe use, which involves burning fruit flavoured tobacco, was among 15 to 24-year-olds.

He said shisha pipe smoking was now incredibly popular among youngsters of all cultures and ethnicity whereas the practice had been non-existent among the age group a few years ago.

Shisha is an Egyptian word for water pipe or, hookah. Fruit flavoured tobacco is burnt on top of lit charcoal and the smoke is then sucked through the pipe.

Mr Chowdary said: "There is a massive misconception that shisha smoking isn't as harmful as cigarette smoking. In fact research by the World Health Organization has shown an average pipe smoking session of around an hour is equivalent to smoking up to 200 cigarettes."

[Thanks Sangoma!]