It's not unusual for incoming freshmen to have never heard of a hookah, but once they get to college it often becomes a socializing staple.
Often viewed as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, the World Health Organization reports that smoking hookah is actually worse than cigarettes.
Even though it might seem like apples to oranges, there's some truth to the study, and students should be mindful.
Those who smoke hookah say they aren't phased by the report. They'll smoke more shisha before they actually look into the facts.
Hookah bars are popping up in Indianapolis and near major universities like Indiana and Purdue. Even though Muncie hasn't opened one, the trend is making its mark at Ball State.
Low Bob's Discount Tobacco, the Village's 420 Underground and Wild Side Smoke Shop all sell hookah supplies. Gas stations all over town sell shisha, the flavored tobacco used in hookahs.
It's understandable why students are attracted to it, and social reasons are just the start.
"Waterpipe tobacco is often sweetened and flavored, making it very appealing; the sweet smell and taste of the smoke may explain why people, particularly young people who otherwise would not use tobacco, begin to use waterpipes," according to the WHO report.
In other words, the sweet flavoring of hookah is a nice little way to reel in college students who don't smoke anything else. It's not the first time we've fallen for it.
Tasty wine coolers have been marketed to young adults for years in order to lure people who otherwise can't stand the taste of alcohol. It might not seem as bad, but the negative ingredients are still there.
The smoke from hookah contains the same toxins known to cause lung cancer and heart disease, and one hookah session could cause a smoker to inhale the equivalent to 100 or more cigarettes.
Is it worth it?
Smoking hookah may be a great way to meet and hang out with friends, but it won't be so great when you're rasping for breath later.
Read More
Ball State Baseball falls in MAC Championship game
By Staff Reports / 3 days agoAfter defeating Mid-American Conference (MAC) Tournament one-seed opponent Bowling Green Saturday morning, Ball State Baseball earned a spot in the championship later that day. The Cardinals were set to face two-seed Western Michigan.
Upcoming events for Memorial Day weekend
By Staff Reports / 3 days agoMemorial Day weekend is in full swing in the Muncie area. With Memorial Day being May 27 there are plenty of upcoming events in the area for people to enjoy.
Community members gather for meeting with updates on The Village revitalization plan
By Ellie Marker and Olivia Ground / 5 days agoIn a presentation titled “The Village Redevelopment At Ball State University,” had information and updates for how the Village, which is located at the south-east corner of campus, was shared. The majority of updates came from Fairmount Properties, the development partner for the project.
