Flavoured tobacco: Death in silver wrap
AS the world marks World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, under the theme “Protecting the present and future generations from the devastating effects of tobaccoâ€, Gilbert Kidimu explores the dangers posed by flavoured tobacco, which is catching on among the youth.
AS the world marks World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, under the theme “Protecting the present and future generations from the devastating effects of tobaccoâ€, Gilbert Kidimu explores the dangers posed by flavoured tobacco, which is catching on among the youth. Contrary to popular belief that flavoured tobacco such as sheessha is less harmful, we bring you the reasons why you know why you should stay away from it
By Gilbert Kidimu
Flavoured and scented tobacco, which leaves a cooling sensation in the mouth, has caught on among health conscious smokers.
Flavoured tobacco may give one a sense of safety because the dreaded tobacco smell is disguised with sweet flavours such as vanilla, coconut, grape, strawberry and cocoa. Ironically, the commonly used flavours are linked to good health. But the flavours are meant to lure more people into smoking, making it more enjoyable while feeling safe.
Health experts’ say
Healthcare officials have long complained about flavoured tobacco luring young people into a lifetime of nicotine addiction.
According to Dr. Margaret Mungherera, the chairperson of the Uganda Medical Association, there is an advocacy curved specifically to discourage mild and flavoured cigarettes, seeing that they give the public the wrong impression that they are less harmful if weighed against the typical cigarette.
“There is no safe dose of nicotine, whether light or flavoured,†she emphasises. “They are just as detrimental to human health as the ordinary cigarettes,†she adds.
Sheesha/shisha
Sheesha is no exception.
Also known as hookah, sheesha is an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing it through water before one inhales it.
In many pubs and bars in Kampala, nowadays, groups of young people recline in couches to smoke from multi-stemmed instruments containing flavoured tobacco.
According to a waiter in one of the popular city pubs, sheesha consumers mostly comprise teenagers and university students, with a few cases of underage children.
But while many people have been led to believe that smoking sheesha is safer than cigarettes — with the common belief that sheesha smoke is filtered by water — nicotine is not soluble in water, says Dr. Amos Mulindwa of Family Care Clinic.
In fact, sheesha smokers actually inhale more nicotine because of the massive volume of smoke they inhale.
Sheesha, like scented cigarettes, gives people a false sense of security. All the water does is cool the smoke, but does little to eliminate the nicotine, hence poses the same, if not worse risks.
Mulindwa adds that sheesha sessions are more threatening to a person’s health than smoking cigarettes, seeing that sheesha is mostly consumed in larger quantities. And since it is taken in groups, it is consumed in greater amounts as people take a lot of time socialising.
Health risks of smoking
Tobacco is a dangerous substance in whatever form, whether smoked or chewed. Even when taken orally, the nicotine still affects the circulatory system, lungs and reproductive system, says Dr. David Basangwa, a senior consultant psychiatrist at Butabika Hospital.
Nicotine also leads to a host of cancers, including lung and throat cancer. The user is most likely to graduate to stronger drugs since people always start with what is mild and legal and then move on to other more intense drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroine and many times become alcoholics,†he adds.
“The nicotine in tobacco is a powerful addictive drug. That is why after a few sessions, people find it difficult to quit,†says Basangwa. He adds that students grades are likely to drop because of too much time wasted consuming sheesha.
Wayforward
The World Health Organisation concluded after a study that sheesha smoking is associated with the same health risks as cigarette smoking and may, in fact, involve some unique health risks. WHO recommends that water pipe tobacco should be subjected to the same regulation as cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Addiction and help
If you have not been there, forget trying. Sheesha smokers are advised to stop before reaching a darker stage.
And if you are already hooked, all is not lost.
Basangwa says you need to accept you have a problem and seek help. “Health workers are able to help an addicted person recover. One is cleansed of the intoxicants alongside counselling,†he explains.
Basangwa adds that the rehabilitation process is strongly determined by the person’s will and commitment to disengage from the habit. Support from family and friends is also key.
Trevor’s story
A year ago, my friends who smoke, persuaded me to give it a shot. I had promised myself never to smoke for health reasons, so I had never held a cigarette in my entire life. But they insisted, saying there was a mild version that was flavoured and felt great. Under the pressure, I gave in.
My understanding was that flavoured cigarette would be less harmful than the ordinary cigarette. The vanilla flavour was the best. I tried it out again and again without stopping. Fifteen minutes of puffing would put me on cloud nine, and in the mood for a whole night out.
The cigarette is heavenly, especially after a long day of lectures and course work. It is quite expensive though; so I spend a substantial amount of my pocket money on flavoured cigarette so that I can smoke anytime.
By Gilbert Kidimu
Flavoured and scented tobacco, which leaves a cooling sensation in the mouth, has caught on among health conscious smokers.
Flavoured tobacco may give one a sense of safety because the dreaded tobacco smell is disguised with sweet flavours such as vanilla, coconut, grape, strawberry and cocoa. Ironically, the commonly used flavours are linked to good health. But the flavours are meant to lure more people into smoking, making it more enjoyable while feeling safe.
Health experts’ say
Healthcare officials have long complained about flavoured tobacco luring young people into a lifetime of nicotine addiction.
According to Dr. Margaret Mungherera, the chairperson of the Uganda Medical Association, there is an advocacy curved specifically to discourage mild and flavoured cigarettes, seeing that they give the public the wrong impression that they are less harmful if weighed against the typical cigarette.
“There is no safe dose of nicotine, whether light or flavoured,†she emphasises. “They are just as detrimental to human health as the ordinary cigarettes,†she adds.
Sheesha/shisha
Sheesha is no exception.
Also known as hookah, sheesha is an oriental tobacco pipe with a long flexible tube connected to a container where the smoke is cooled by passing it through water before one inhales it.
In many pubs and bars in Kampala, nowadays, groups of young people recline in couches to smoke from multi-stemmed instruments containing flavoured tobacco.
According to a waiter in one of the popular city pubs, sheesha consumers mostly comprise teenagers and university students, with a few cases of underage children.
But while many people have been led to believe that smoking sheesha is safer than cigarettes — with the common belief that sheesha smoke is filtered by water — nicotine is not soluble in water, says Dr. Amos Mulindwa of Family Care Clinic.
In fact, sheesha smokers actually inhale more nicotine because of the massive volume of smoke they inhale.
Sheesha, like scented cigarettes, gives people a false sense of security. All the water does is cool the smoke, but does little to eliminate the nicotine, hence poses the same, if not worse risks.
Mulindwa adds that sheesha sessions are more threatening to a person’s health than smoking cigarettes, seeing that sheesha is mostly consumed in larger quantities. And since it is taken in groups, it is consumed in greater amounts as people take a lot of time socialising.
Health risks of smoking
Tobacco is a dangerous substance in whatever form, whether smoked or chewed. Even when taken orally, the nicotine still affects the circulatory system, lungs and reproductive system, says Dr. David Basangwa, a senior consultant psychiatrist at Butabika Hospital.
Nicotine also leads to a host of cancers, including lung and throat cancer. The user is most likely to graduate to stronger drugs since people always start with what is mild and legal and then move on to other more intense drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroine and many times become alcoholics,†he adds.
“The nicotine in tobacco is a powerful addictive drug. That is why after a few sessions, people find it difficult to quit,†says Basangwa. He adds that students grades are likely to drop because of too much time wasted consuming sheesha.
Wayforward
The World Health Organisation concluded after a study that sheesha smoking is associated with the same health risks as cigarette smoking and may, in fact, involve some unique health risks. WHO recommends that water pipe tobacco should be subjected to the same regulation as cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Addiction and help
If you have not been there, forget trying. Sheesha smokers are advised to stop before reaching a darker stage.
And if you are already hooked, all is not lost.
Basangwa says you need to accept you have a problem and seek help. “Health workers are able to help an addicted person recover. One is cleansed of the intoxicants alongside counselling,†he explains.
Basangwa adds that the rehabilitation process is strongly determined by the person’s will and commitment to disengage from the habit. Support from family and friends is also key.
Trevor’s story
A year ago, my friends who smoke, persuaded me to give it a shot. I had promised myself never to smoke for health reasons, so I had never held a cigarette in my entire life. But they insisted, saying there was a mild version that was flavoured and felt great. Under the pressure, I gave in.
My understanding was that flavoured cigarette would be less harmful than the ordinary cigarette. The vanilla flavour was the best. I tried it out again and again without stopping. Fifteen minutes of puffing would put me on cloud nine, and in the mood for a whole night out.
The cigarette is heavenly, especially after a long day of lectures and course work. It is quite expensive though; so I spend a substantial amount of my pocket money on flavoured cigarette so that I can smoke anytime.