6 Myths About Hookah—Debunked
It was back in 1993, during my military service, when I made a regrettable choice: I lit my first cigarette. That moment of weakness, as I describe in my book Thirsty for Health and my article How to Quit Smoking Forever, marked the beginning of a long addiction to nicotine.
For sixteen years, I smoked cigarettes. That was my delivery method of choice for the highly addictive drug nicotine—a drug more addictive than heroin or cocaine and one that kills more people than all illegal drugs combined.
Fortunately, I woke up at age 35. I finally saw through the lies and broke free from nicotine’s grip. I’ve now lived more than seven years without smoking or using nicotine in any form. I’m healthier, happier, and free.
Unlike some people, I never experimented with alternative forms of tobacco like chewing tobacco, snus, or hookah—but I’ve done my research. And today I want to talk to you about hookah, also known as narghile, shisha, hubbly-bubbly, goza, or borry, depending on the region.
What Is Hookah?
Hookah is a water pipe used to smoke specially prepared tobacco (often sticky and sweetened with honey or molasses). The tobacco is heated using charcoal, and the smoke passes through a water chamber before being drawn through a hose and mouthpiece.
Hookah use is popular in many parts of the world, particularly the Middle East, India, and Turkey, where men often gather to smoke on the streets or in cafes. But hookah is gaining global popularity—especially among younger generations—under the false assumption that it is a safer alternative to cigarette smoking.
It’s not.
In fact, hookah may be even more harmful and more addictive than cigarettes.
Let’s break down the most common myths about hookah—and reveal the facts.
Myth #1: The Water Filters Out Harmful Substances
Fact: The water in a hookah may cool the smoke, but it does not remove harmful toxins. Hookah smoke still contains carbon monoxide, tar, heavy metals, and carcinogens that damage your lungs and heart—just like cigarette smoke.
Myth #2: Hookah Smoke Doesn’t Burn the Lungs, So It’s Safer
Fact: The reason hookah smoke feels smoother is that it’s cooled by the water. That doesn’t make it safer. The toxins are still there—they’re just less harsh on the throat, which may lead you to inhale deeper and longer.
Myth #3: Herbal Shisha Is a Healthier Alternative
Fact: Whether it’s soaked in molasses, honey, or fruit essence, smoke is smoke. Herbal or not, you’re still inhaling combustion products—including tar and cancer-causing substances.
Myth #4: Hookah Doesn’t Contain Nicotine, So You Can’t Get Addicted
Fact: Most shisha does contain nicotine, and even herbal varieties can contain small traces. In just one hour of hookah smoking, a person can inhale 100 to 200 times more smoke than from a single cigarette—exposing themselves to roughly the same amount of nicotine and tar as smoking an entire pack of cigarettes.
Myth #5: Shisha Contains Fruit, So It Must Be Healthy
Fact: Fruit-flavored shisha still contains tobacco—and flavoring it doesn’t make it any safer. The pleasant aroma can mask the danger and encourage longer sessions, increasing your risk of cancer, addiction, and respiratory damage.
Myth #6: Hookah Is Safer Than Cigarettes
Fact: Hookah is not safer than smoking. The method may differ, but the health risks are the same. Hookah users are also at risk of infectious diseases (like colds, flu, or oral herpes) due to shared and improperly cleaned mouthpieces.
Final Thoughts
Hookah smoking is not harmless. It’s not relaxing. It’s not traditional. It’s addictive, toxic, and deadly.
If you’re using hookah—or thinking about trying it—know this: you are exposing your body to the same poisons as cigarettes, and maybe even more.
My goal is to help you reclaim your life from nicotine addiction, whether it’s delivered by cigarette, vape, patch, or pipe.
If this article spoke to you, I invite you to read my book Thirsty for Health, and watch out for my upcoming book on how I quit smoking permanently.
Have a healthy, smoke-free day.
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