Water pipe smoking: an emerging trend with detrimental consequences

Abstract

The unprecedented rise in prevalence of water pipe smoking poses a raft of deleterious effects to public health. A past time communal activity mostly practised in Middle East has now extended its tentacles to engulf most parts of the world. What is more worrying is the alacrity exhibited by most African nations in entrenching policies to curb this new method of tobacco smoking. This commentary seeks to explore the phenomenal rise in water pipe smoking and its ramifications for developing countries, especially in Africa.

Keywords

• water pipe
• smoking
• tobacco