Is Waterpipe Smoking a Gateway to Cigarette Smoking among Youth?

Is Waterpipe Smoking a Gateway to Cigarette Smoking among Youth?

Introduction: Whether waterpipe smoking is a gateway to cigarette smoking among youth is not known yet. The objective of our study was to assess the profile of dual and single smokers of both, waterpipe and cigarette, and evaluate whether a given type of smoking may be a gateway for the other. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, using a proportionate cluster sample of Lebanese students in the public and private universities. The questionnaire used in this study was composed of several parts, including the sociodemographic part and a detailed active and passive smoking history, in addition to items of the tobacco dependence scales for both waterpipe and cigarette.