Conclusion
Hookah smokers are exposed to smoke that contains not only
the addictive stimulant, nicotine, but also harmful chemicals
from the burning charcoal-in addition to carbon monoxide
and fine particulate matter from hookah tobacco. Although
the literature is replete on the harmfrrl effects of cigarette smok-ing on health, very limited research has been devoted on study-ing hookah smoking. This study signifies the urgent importance
of more research and campaigns to increase pubtc knowledge
on hookah smoking, especially in the young adult popula-tion. There is cleady a need for future research focusing on
the acute as well as chronic, harmful health effects of hookah
smoking to support community and public educational pro-grams. Current programs in schools, colleges, and public in-formation initiatives that address cigarettes should also include
hookah and clearly define smoking to include hookah. In ad-dition, it may be vital to increase barriers to hookah smoking
by enforcing stringent rules zuch as age limits, changing zoning
laws, and, perhaps, prohibiting flavored hookah.