Argileh smoking among university students: a new tobacco epidemic.
Author: Chaaya M, El Roueiheb Z, Chemaitelly H, Azar G, Nasr J, Al Sahab B.
Source:
Nicotine & tobacco research, 6(3), 457-463.
The recent global increase in argileh use represents the modern renaissance of an
old public health threat and a new tobacco epidemic. This study examined argileh
smoking knowledge and attitudes in a sample of university students in Beirut as
determinants of argileh smoking. Data were collected cross-sectionally through
self-administered questionnaires from 416 students at the American University of
Beirut through stratified cluster sampling. The proportion of ever-smokers in
this study was 43%, compared with the 30% reported 4 years ago. A total of 28.3%
of the surveyed students were current argileh smokers, and the average initiation
age was 16 years. Compared with argileh smokers, significantly greater
proportions of nonsmokers had positive attitudes about argileh banning and more
accurate knowledge about argileh. Argileh smoking among Lebanese young is on the
rise. Students demonstrated partial knowledge and moderate to favorable attitudes
concerning argileh smoking. Possible public health interventions are discussed in
light of the social and cultural context of argileh use to neutralize this
emerging global public health threat.