Though cigarette use has been on the decline since the ’70s, a newly released study conducted by New York University’s Center for Drug Use and HIV Research shows that some tobacco products are gaining ground. The study surveyed 15,000 high school seniors in 48 states and found that 18% of students had smoked hookah in the last 18 months.
Many believe hookah to be less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but the duration of inhales and the prolonged period of use can be very detrimental.
“Students of higher socioeconomic status appear to be more likely to use hookah,” says Joseph Palamar, one of the authors of the study. You’re even more likely if you live in a big city like New York.”
Researchers predict that some of these hookah-smoking rich kids in the big city will then move on to becoming ecigarette smokers, which is not very shocking.
(Photo: appplej00cie)
