July 18, 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

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...