August 8, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

UCLA Study: Younger Adults Believe Hookah Unharmful to Health

Hookah
A UCLA study found people age 18 to 30 do not believe hookah smoking is harmful to one’s health. (Creative commons)

Governments are already wrangling with regulation of marijuana and e-cigarettes. A recent study conducted by UCLA might not spurn any new laws governing hookah smoking, but it certainly provided some perspective of how people age 30 and under view the health impacts of the trendy form of socializing.

According to information released the UCLA School of Nursing, about 57 percent of people who participated in a field study believed hookah smoking was not harmful to their health.

The respondents were patrons of one of three Southern California hookah lounges UCLA researchers visited during their study. Full findings of the research project were published in the most recent issue of the journal Nursing Research.

During the hookah lounge visitations, researchers reportedly asked people between the ages of 18 and 30 a series of questions, including, “Do you believe smoking hookah is harmful to your health?”

To that question, 57 percent reportedly said “No.”

Researchers reportedly asked those 57 percent a follow-up question of what made them believe hookah is not harmful. According to the information released by the UCLA School of Nursing, about 47 percent said they believed hookah was not harmful because the water filters the smoke.

Another 35 percent reportedly believed hookah was not harmful because the fruit flavoring detoxified the tobacco’s chemicals.

About 16 percent of people who believed hookah was not harmful to one’s health reportedly said the tobacco used is not addictive and is absent of nicotine.

Researchers also asked respondents whether they found hookah smoking as more attractive than cigarette smoking. According to the UCLA study, 60 percent of respondents said doing hookah was a form of socializing with friends.

As for the 43 percent of people who did believe hookah smoking was harmful to one’s health, a statement about the UCLA study said this group believed doing hookah with friends outweighed any health impacts.

In 1997, an article published in the New York Times quoted a 71-year-old man who distinguished hookah from cigarettes, stating the former is for people who are not nervous or competitive or always on-the-run.

“Cigarettes are for nervous people, competitive people, people on the run,” the New York Times quoted the then-71-year-old as saying. “When you smoke a [hookah] you have time to think. It teaches you patience and tolerance, and gives you an appreciation of good company. [Hookah] smokers have a much more balanced approach to life than cigarette smokers.”

Hookah is a form of smoking tobacco through a water pipe.

The abstract of the UCLA study described hookah “a form of tobacco use, historically from the Middle East and India that is fueling a contemporary epidemic of tobacco abuse and a nationwide public health crisis, particularly among young adults.”

According to a statement issued by UCLA about the study, hookah is portrayed as an activity “heavily marketed to young adults of all ethnic backgrounds as an attractive social phenomenon and a non-addictive, healthier alternative to cigarette smoking.”

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reportedly issued warnings that smoking hookah could be as dangerous as smoking cigarettes.

Hookah smoking is the only form of tobacco use not regulated in the United States, according to a UCLA statement. The statement added more than 2,000 shops sell hookah tobacco and products within California and about 175 lounges and cafés exist in the State. A majority of hookah lounges operate in the Los Angeles area and near a college or university. There are two competing hookah lounges in Westwood Village just south of the UCLA campus.

UCLA stated the study was supported by the Deloras Jones RN Scholarship Program and authored by Aurelia Macabasco-Connell of the Azusa Pacific University School of Nursing and Mary Woo of the UCLA School of Nursing.

Related Posts

Full Moon Frights at Cinespia: Vampires, Werewolves, and a Night Under the Stars

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Double Feature Coincides With Rare Celestial Triple Event Cinespia invites fans of horror comedy classics will gather under the glow...

Xenomorphs Hit Hollywood: FX Launches Global ‘Alien: Earth’ Hunt Ahead of Series Premiere

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

Fans Can Track “Crash-Site” Crates in LA for Instant Prizes, Photo Ops, and Sweepstakes FX is bringing the world of...

Glorya Kaufman, Dance, Arts and Health Philanthropist Who Transformed L.A.’s Landscape, Dies at 95

August 8, 2025

August 8, 2025

From Culver City, Brentwood, UCLA, USC, and Downtown LA, Her Generosity was Legendary Glorya Kaufman, a transformative benefactor to the...

Overnight Lane Closures Set for I-405 Through Sepulveda Pass Next Week

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Caltrans to Close Multiple Northbound and Southbound Lanes Nightly  Caltrans will implement overnight lane closures along Interstate 405 in the...

Levain Bakery Lands in Beverly Hills with Cookies, Swag, and a Sweet Surprise

August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Newest Location’s Debut Includes Limited-Edition Flavor, Early-Bird Giveaways Levain Bakery will mark the opening of its newest location in Beverly...

Bistro Blue’s One Night Only Seasonal Menu Pops Up at Little City Farms August 10

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Chef Kara Vorabutr’s Garden Dinner Promises to be a Seasonal Showstopper Bistro Blue, a pop-up concept by Chef Kara Vorabutr,...

Cardinale du Vin’s Weekend Izakaya Pop-Up Blends Thai Flavors and Japanese Dishes

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Three Nights Only: Thai-Japanese Fusion Menu Launched in Pico-Robertson Cardinale du Vin is unveiling a special izakaya-inspired menu this weekend,...

Santa Monica’s Chez Jay Celebrates 66 Years with Retro Bash by the Beach

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

Landmark Restaurant Celebrates With Classic Cars, Live Music, Celebrity Lore One of Los Angeles County’s most storied restaurants will mark...

Film Review: Weapons

August 6, 2025

August 6, 2025

By Dolores Quintana You might be asking yourself what the film Weapons is about. Not to worry, writer and director...

Classic Rock Tribute Takes Center Stage at Beverly Hills Summer Series, Concerts on Canon

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rod Lightning and the Thunderbolts of Love Bring High-Energy Hits to the Stage The City of Beverly Hills continues its...

Trial Date Set for Alleged ‘Ketamine Queen’ in Matthew Perry’s Death

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Woman Accused in Matthew Perry’s Overdose to Face Jury The woman accused of supplying the fatal dose of ketamine that...

DUI Suspect Identified and Charged in Crash That Killed 9-Year-Old, Injured Brother

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

RV Driver to Face Serious Felony Charges After Striking Boys Riding E-Scooter The 46-year-old man who was allegedly driving under...

Late-Night Traffic Stop in L.A. Lands Rap Star Soulja Boy Back in Legal Spotlight

August 5, 2025

August 5, 2025

Rapper Taken Into Custody During Early Morning Traffic Stop Rapper Soulja Boy was taken into custody early Sunday after Los...

Deadly Crosswalk Hit and Run in West Adams, Victim Hit Multiple Times and Left to Die

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Three Drivers Who Struck and Killed a Pedestrian  Detectives with the Los Angeles Police...

Brentwood Bookstore Welcomes a Hollywood Insider and Secret Service Agent for a Night of Noir

August 4, 2025

August 4, 2025

Tinseltown Thrills Meet Real-Life Intrigue With Author of To Live and Die in LA Diesel, A Bookstore will host a...