Dubai: Teenage smokers in the UAE are shunning cigarettes and going back to their roots to get a stronger high from tobacco.
Teenage smokers Gulf News talked to said many prefer to smoke the midwakh, a small traditional Arabic pipe. Smoking the midwakh is a tedious but less dangerous method of smoking, as smokers can only get two puffs from the pipe before they have to fill it up again with tobacco.
However, safety was not the reason Ahmad A.H., a 17-year old college student, prefers the midwakh to cigarettes.
He told Gulf News that he preferred using the midwakh as it delivered a more intense nicotine high.
"It's an alternative to cigarettes because it gives a stronger and faster buzz. Cigarettes stink, midwakh doesn't," he said. "It's small, like a pen or pencil so you can put it in your pocket. Cigarettes are too bulky." He said most of his friends smoked the midwakh too.
Hamid K., a 17-year old high school student from Palestine, said he smoked the midwakh for the longer-lasting effects.
Alarming
"Cigarettes do not have the same effect as the midwakh. The buzz lasts longer and you can also get flavoured tobacco," he said, adding he also liked to smoke shisha.
Despite being underage, the two said they never had problems getting their supply of tobacco from grocery stores and some specialty stores for smokers. "It's not like cigarettes. Some stores will check your ID before buying cigarettes, but not midwakh," Hamid said.
Khan, a sales assistant at a tobacco specialty store in Al Quoz, told Gulf News that the midwakh was very popular with students and young people from the UAE and other GCC countries.
"I see a lot of young boys doing this," he said, adding that he does not sell any tobacco products to customers younger than 18.
"I've had a few 16 and 17-year olds coming in and asking to buy midwakhs or its tobacco, but I refused them," he said. Nevertheless, he said some stores do not check their customers' ID, especially small stores in Satwa, Karama and Deira.
Health officials Gulf News contacted were concerned that teenage smoking was as prevalent as ever, even if they switched to a less harmful alternative.
Dr Layla Al Marzouqi, a cardiologist at Dubai Hospital, said: "It might be better than cigarettes but it's still poison and addictive."healthcare
Drive for smoke-free work environment
Even as more teenagers turn to the traditional Arabic pipe, the Dubai Courts Department has inaugurated a month-long campaign 'For A Healthier Work Environment'.
The goal of the month-long drive, launched in May by Director General Dr Ahmad Bin Hazim Al Suwaidi, is to create a smoke-free work environment in the department, which coincides with International Anti-Smoking Day. MEGAN HIRONS/Gulf News
