Skip to main content
Research Article Research Article

Study highlights rapid transitions in hookah use and risk factors for experimentation

This study examined correlates of hookah use and predictors of hookah trial at a six-month follow-up in a nationally representative, prospective sample of U.S. young adults. Data were drawn from a subset of participants, aged 18-24 years, at study entry from two waves of the Legacy Young Adult Cohort Study. Wave 5 was completed in July 2013 by 1,555 participants and 74 percent (n=1,150) completed follow-up six months later in January 2014. At baseline (Wave 5), almost 25 percent of the sample had ever used hookah and four percent reported past 30-day use. Eight percent of never users at baseline reported trying hookah six months later. Alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use were more prevalent among ever and past 30-day hookah users than among never users. Significant predictors of hookah trial included college enrollment; alcohol, marijuana, and cigarette use; and perceptions that hookah is less harmful than cigarettes. Results highlight rapid transitions in hookah use and several risk factors for hookah experimentation.

50% of young adults who have ever used hookah believe that smoking hookah is less harmful than cigarette smoking.
84% of individuals who tried hookah for the first time reported some alcohol use at baseline.

Key takeaways

50%

50% of young adults who have ever used hookah believe that smoking hookah is less harmful than cigarette smoking.

84%

84% of individuals who tried hookah for the first time reported some alcohol use at baseline.

65%

65% of people who tried hookah for the first time were currently enrolled in college.

33%

33% of people who tried hookah for the first time were past 30-day cigarette users at baseline.