• Hookahs—sometimes called water pipes—are used to smoke specially made tobacco that is available in a variety of flavors (e.g., apple, mint, cherry, chocolate, coconut, licorice, cappuccino, and watermelon).^1,2

• Hookah smoking is typically practiced in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person.^1,2
• Hookahs originated in ancient Persia and India and have been used extensively for centuries.^1,2,3 Today, hookah cafés are gaining popularity around the globe, including Britain, France, Russia, the Middle East, and the United States.¹ An estimated 300 hookah cafés operated in the United States in 2006, and the numbers continue to grow.¹ In recent years, there has been a increase in hookah use around the world, most notably among youth.^1,2,3

• Hookah is known by a number of different names, including narghile, argileh, shisha, hubble-bubble, and goza.^1,2
• Hookahs vary in size, shape, and composition.²
• A typical modern hookah comprises a head (with holes in the bottom), a metal body, a water bowl, and a flexible hose with a mouthpiece.⁴