Abstract
We aimed to improve understanding of young adults' perceptions and interpretations of the contexts surrounding use. We conducted focus groups with young adult hookah users (ages 18-28) to examine hookah-use experiences and risk perceptions. Two dominant themes that emerged from the discussions were the social aspects of use (eg, "ending up" at a hookah café while out with friends), and the mental and physiological reactions to use (eg, relaxation and a "high" feeling). Participants often argued that because they only used hookah every few weeks, hookah use was much less dangerous than cigarette use. Findings suggest that hookah research should account for heuristic processing and point to several areas where better health communication and stricter regulatory policies are needed.
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Published Version
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