Argileh use among college students in the United States: an emerging trend.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the prevalence and predictors of argileh (hookah pipe) use among a sample of nonselected college students.

METHOD: Participants were 602 students (24% male; 43% white; mean age=22.06) at a large, ethnically diverse, urban university. All participants completed an online survey designed to assess various types of substance use.

RESULTS

More than 15% of the sample reported having used argileh at least once in their lifetime, exceeding the percentage of students who had tried stimulants, barbiturates, cocaine, Ecstasy, heroin, or psychedelics. Arab ethnicity and cigarette smoking were the strongest predictors of argileh use; however, a substantial percentage of non-Arabs and nonsmokers also had tried argileh.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that, in comparison with other substances, the prevalence of argileh use is high among college students in the United States. Physical health implications of these findings are discussed.