Shisha-Smoking: Alarming Trend Among Urban Youths
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Bernama) -- The nocturnal hours at a dimly-lit cafe in the metropolis saw a group of youths sitting close to each other, reclining comfortably on their chairs.
Amidst the laughter and slow-rising smoke rings, the young men and women took turns to inhale from what appeared to be some outlandish objects.
This group of teenagers were actually having one of their regular shisha-smoking sessions.
Shisha, also known as "hookah", is a stand-up device used to smoke flavoured tobacco. For a session of shisha-smoking, the amount usually charged is between RM10 and RM15.
This pastime is fast becoming a culture among the urban youths, particularly the Malays.
One of the oldest traditions in Middle Eastern countries, shisha is believed to make its appearance in Malaysia with the influx of Arab tourists in the 90s.
In the days prior to the use of tobacco, the shisha would usually contain opium or hashish.
NO RESTRICTION
Some may wonder why there is no restriction or ban on shisha-smoking as the government has spent a lot of money on anti-smoking campaigns. And why are the health authorities keeping mum on shisha-smoking although it also uses tobacco?
Based on the latest World Health Organisation's (WHO) statistics, there are 1.3 billon smokers worldwide with five million deaths every year from smoking-related diseases.
The world body has warned that if there is no positive change in the trend, 10 million people would die each year from such diseases by 2020.
WHO's concern is best reflected in its slogan for this year's World No Tobacco Day, warning smokers that "tobacco is deadly in any form or disguise".
Recently, there was a recent report from London about a public ban on smoking in England which is to come into effect in June 2007, dealing a big blow on shisha-smokers.
EASILY INFLUENCED
Malaysian Muslim Consumers' Association (PPIM) secretary-general Datuk Dr Maamor Osman is not at all surprised that shisha-smoking is fast becoming a craze among Malay youths.
"Malay youths are easily influenced by something which they think (they can do) only for fun without checking the background of a culture apart from the risks, especially from the health point of view," he told Bernama, here recently.
Smoking shisha may well be accepted in certain societies like in the Middle East and Africa.
"There are some who think that burning tobacco with fruit or other substances and using water to act as filter would save them from health risks.
"This act is driven by desire and the shisha smokers are merely comforting themselves that nothing detrimental would befall them. In actual fact, they are still at risk," Dr Maamor said.
"Shisha-smoking has many similarities to cigarette-smoking, so this habit too has its own hard-core smokers," he added.
In Malaysia, shisha-smoking is similar to taking marijuana which uses a device called "dapur".
"This allows addicts to conceal their drug-taking behind shisha-smoking, which purportedly uses fruit and other ingredients," said Dr Maamor.
"There's also the question of whether shisha-smoking is suitable with Malaysian culture," he said.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
ERA Consumer Malaysia deputy secretary-general Ismail Abd Aziz is concerned that shisha-smoking would have a negative social impact on youths.
Ismail said he had gone out at night to check on the extent of shisha-smoking among youths around Petaling Jaya and other areas.
"The youngsters, including the girls, were not ashamed at all to smoke shisha in public. They seemed to be very proud smoking in that manner and looked so pleased when others watched them.
"They don't know the risks they are taking which can result in long-term health effects," he said.
Ismail is also concerned that shisha-smoking could be abused by adding cannabis, causing more detrimental effects.
He said this could take place discreetly, among close friends or regular customers at premises that provide shisha-smoking services.
CRIPPLING FACTOR
The shisha-smoking craze, if left unchecked, might cripple the government's determination to free Malaysians of illicit drugs, said Dr Maamor.
He recalled the time when cannabis and marijuana addiction was rampant among the Malays and it was common then for addicts to use the "dapur" to take the drugs.
"All those addicts later graduated to taking designer drugs such as syabu, ice and others.
"Our government has made illicit drugs the country's number one enemy. For that we should not allow the proliferation of another negative culture -- shisha-smoking.
"It may be a new trend in smoking but it's still the same (using tobacco)," he added.
He said the rising number of shisha users was making a mockery of the anti-drug campaigns organised by government agencies like Pemadam and police as well as non-governmental organisations.
"Some people even have the nerve to claim that shisha-smoking would not pose any risk.
"Shisha-smoking goes against the Prime Minister's aspiration to create the towering personality.
"This culture is a waste of time and is also unhygienic as people take turns to smoke a shisha," said Dr Maamor.
USERS AT RISK
The very act of inhaling smoke places shisha users at risk to respiratory diseases like bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer.
Dr Maamor said: "The assumption that the risk is reduced if we inhale smoke which has passed through water is wrong.
"The risk remains the same as there's still smoke inhaled. It's the same with cigarettes which have filters, the risk is still there".
He is also concerned about risks for passive smokers.
"Children and pregnant mothers exposed to shisha smoke are at risk. Even those who are not sitting around the smokers are at risk as the smoke pollutes the environment," said Dr Maamor.
"From the religious aspect, shisha-smoking also confuses the public with some passing it as 'halal', others say it's 'haram' while a number considers it 'makruh'," he added.
STEPS TO BE TAKEN
Both Dr Maamor and Ismail are calling on the government to control shisha-smoking before it gets out of control.
"Shisha-smoking is like a small flame that can turn into a huge, raging bonfire if there are no checks and restrictions", said Dr Maamor.
"It needs to be curtailed when still in its infancy. Otherwise, it could develop into something that would be difficult and costly to deal with.
"It is our hope that the government would realise the negative impact of shisha-smoking and adopt a clear policy on this," he said.
Ismail is urging the Health Ministry to check on the smoking device and its contents.
"The police also need to monitor the premises that offer shisha-smoking and inspect the contents of the shisha to ensure there is no cannabis being used.
"The need to have a licence for shisha should be imposed, similar to that on the sale of cigarettes. Tobacco for the shisha should be taxed to keep this unhealthy habit under control," Ismail said.
KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 (Bernama) -- The nocturnal hours at a dimly-lit cafe in the metropolis saw a group of youths sitting close to each other, reclining comfortably on their chairs.
Amidst the laughter and slow-rising smoke rings, the young men and women took turns to inhale from what appeared to be some outlandish objects.
This group of teenagers were actually having one of their regular shisha-smoking sessions.
Shisha, also known as "hookah", is a stand-up device used to smoke flavoured tobacco. For a session of shisha-smoking, the amount usually charged is between RM10 and RM15.
This pastime is fast becoming a culture among the urban youths, particularly the Malays.
One of the oldest traditions in Middle Eastern countries, shisha is believed to make its appearance in Malaysia with the influx of Arab tourists in the 90s.
In the days prior to the use of tobacco, the shisha would usually contain opium or hashish.
NO RESTRICTION
Some may wonder why there is no restriction or ban on shisha-smoking as the government has spent a lot of money on anti-smoking campaigns. And why are the health authorities keeping mum on shisha-smoking although it also uses tobacco?
Based on the latest World Health Organisation's (WHO) statistics, there are 1.3 billon smokers worldwide with five million deaths every year from smoking-related diseases.
The world body has warned that if there is no positive change in the trend, 10 million people would die each year from such diseases by 2020.
WHO's concern is best reflected in its slogan for this year's World No Tobacco Day, warning smokers that "tobacco is deadly in any form or disguise".
Recently, there was a recent report from London about a public ban on smoking in England which is to come into effect in June 2007, dealing a big blow on shisha-smokers.
EASILY INFLUENCED
Malaysian Muslim Consumers' Association (PPIM) secretary-general Datuk Dr Maamor Osman is not at all surprised that shisha-smoking is fast becoming a craze among Malay youths.
"Malay youths are easily influenced by something which they think (they can do) only for fun without checking the background of a culture apart from the risks, especially from the health point of view," he told Bernama, here recently.
Smoking shisha may well be accepted in certain societies like in the Middle East and Africa.
"There are some who think that burning tobacco with fruit or other substances and using water to act as filter would save them from health risks.
"This act is driven by desire and the shisha smokers are merely comforting themselves that nothing detrimental would befall them. In actual fact, they are still at risk," Dr Maamor said.
"Shisha-smoking has many similarities to cigarette-smoking, so this habit too has its own hard-core smokers," he added.
In Malaysia, shisha-smoking is similar to taking marijuana which uses a device called "dapur".
"This allows addicts to conceal their drug-taking behind shisha-smoking, which purportedly uses fruit and other ingredients," said Dr Maamor.
"There's also the question of whether shisha-smoking is suitable with Malaysian culture," he said.
NEGATIVE IMPACT
ERA Consumer Malaysia deputy secretary-general Ismail Abd Aziz is concerned that shisha-smoking would have a negative social impact on youths.
Ismail said he had gone out at night to check on the extent of shisha-smoking among youths around Petaling Jaya and other areas.
"The youngsters, including the girls, were not ashamed at all to smoke shisha in public. They seemed to be very proud smoking in that manner and looked so pleased when others watched them.
"They don't know the risks they are taking which can result in long-term health effects," he said.
Ismail is also concerned that shisha-smoking could be abused by adding cannabis, causing more detrimental effects.
He said this could take place discreetly, among close friends or regular customers at premises that provide shisha-smoking services.
CRIPPLING FACTOR
The shisha-smoking craze, if left unchecked, might cripple the government's determination to free Malaysians of illicit drugs, said Dr Maamor.
He recalled the time when cannabis and marijuana addiction was rampant among the Malays and it was common then for addicts to use the "dapur" to take the drugs.
"All those addicts later graduated to taking designer drugs such as syabu, ice and others.
"Our government has made illicit drugs the country's number one enemy. For that we should not allow the proliferation of another negative culture -- shisha-smoking.
"It may be a new trend in smoking but it's still the same (using tobacco)," he added.
He said the rising number of shisha users was making a mockery of the anti-drug campaigns organised by government agencies like Pemadam and police as well as non-governmental organisations.
"Some people even have the nerve to claim that shisha-smoking would not pose any risk.
"Shisha-smoking goes against the Prime Minister's aspiration to create the towering personality.
"This culture is a waste of time and is also unhygienic as people take turns to smoke a shisha," said Dr Maamor.
USERS AT RISK
The very act of inhaling smoke places shisha users at risk to respiratory diseases like bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer.
Dr Maamor said: "The assumption that the risk is reduced if we inhale smoke which has passed through water is wrong.
"The risk remains the same as there's still smoke inhaled. It's the same with cigarettes which have filters, the risk is still there".
He is also concerned about risks for passive smokers.
"Children and pregnant mothers exposed to shisha smoke are at risk. Even those who are not sitting around the smokers are at risk as the smoke pollutes the environment," said Dr Maamor.
"From the religious aspect, shisha-smoking also confuses the public with some passing it as 'halal', others say it's 'haram' while a number considers it 'makruh'," he added.
STEPS TO BE TAKEN
Both Dr Maamor and Ismail are calling on the government to control shisha-smoking before it gets out of control.
"Shisha-smoking is like a small flame that can turn into a huge, raging bonfire if there are no checks and restrictions", said Dr Maamor.
"It needs to be curtailed when still in its infancy. Otherwise, it could develop into something that would be difficult and costly to deal with.
"It is our hope that the government would realise the negative impact of shisha-smoking and adopt a clear policy on this," he said.
Ismail is urging the Health Ministry to check on the smoking device and its contents.
"The police also need to monitor the premises that offer shisha-smoking and inspect the contents of the shisha to ensure there is no cannabis being used.
"The need to have a licence for shisha should be imposed, similar to that on the sale of cigarettes. Tobacco for the shisha should be taxed to keep this unhealthy habit under control," Ismail said.
June 14, 2006 09:27 AM
By Melati Mohd Ariff
Bernama
By Melati Mohd Ariff
Bernama
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