A85 Water-pipe smoking and traffic crashes: a hidden aspect of an emerging global epidemic

Abstract

Abstract Background Over the last 20 years, the habit of Water-pipe Tobacco Smoking (WTS) has become a global epidemic. WTS is especially prevalent among youth and young adults, who often believe it is a relatively safe behavior. There is now a considerable body of evidence refuting this popular view. Yet, the health implications of WTS have still not been considered in full, and the mechanisms leading users to engage in WTS remain under-theorized. The current study examined the hypothesis that the intensity of WTS smoking, compared to cigarettes, will have both physiological and observable behavioral effects, which will be manifested in driving ability. Methods Over the last 20 years, the habit of Water-pipe Tobacco Smoking (WTS) has become a global epidemic. WTS is especially prevalent among youth and young adults, who often believe it is a relatively safe behavior. There is now a considerable body of evidence refuting this popular view. Yet, the health implications of WTS have still not been considered in full, and the mechanisms leading users to engage in WTS remain under-theorized. The current study examined the hypothesis that the intensity of WTS smoking, compared to cigarettes, will have both physiological and observable behavioral effects, which will be manifested in driving ability. Results The results show that WTS had a significant negative influence on the driving ability of WTS users, who committed more infractions and were more likely to be in a crash, and that this reduction was associated with hypoxia-like conditions. In addition, the results show that personal attitudes, subjective norms, and a feeling of personal behavioral control all significantly contribute to the prediction of WTS behavior. The latter is especially important as it has been previously neglected in WTS research. Conclusions The current study provides an empirical demonstration that the health implications of WTS, and by extension smoking, can go beyond direct bodily influences and include second-order effects such as risky driving and increased involvement in traffic crashes of WTS users. Even if we put aside relatively severe yet arguably justified measures such as banning or regulating and limiting WTS to certain age groups, it is clearly necessary to raise awareness to this hidden aspect of what many consider to be a rising global epidemic.