Prevalence of the Tobacco Product Dokha Among High School Students in Dubai

Abstract

Background: Dokha is a mixed tobacco product, smoked through a pipe, traditional in Arabic culture and popular in the UAE. User forums suggest this product may contain higher levels of nicotine and potentially psychoactive properties. However, there have been few published studies on dokha prevalence and health effects. The present study provides initial data on prevalence of use among high school students resident in Dubai, UAE. Methods: 416 students were recruited from five English curriculum schools. Respondents completed a questionnaire measuring current and lifetime use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes, water-pipes and dokha. Current tobacco users completed the ‘Hooked on Nicotine Checklist for signs of dependency. Results: Data from 394 subjects were analyzed with mean age 16.9 years. Regular use (weekly or daily) of tobacco had relatively high prevalence (23.4%) compared to international data and was driven by use of the local tobacco, dokha. Conclusion: Dokha forms a commonly used tobacco product among young people in the UAE from both Arab and Western national groups. Little is currently known about the health and dependence risks of this product. The paper adds to the few studies calling for timely research into this and other emerging tobacco products.

Keywords :

• tobacco
• dokha
• expatriot
• Dubai

THE AUTHORS

Dr Annie Crookes has been based in Dubai, UAE for the past 9 years as a lecturer in Psychology for two British institutions, and currently Associate Head of Life Sciences for Heriot Watt University at their Dubai Campus. Following a recent sabbatical year in which she gained an MSc in International Addiction Studies she has a research interest in substance use among young people based in Dubai. As a member of the Gulf Tobacco Research Collective she is working with other professionals and academics interested in both shisha and dokha forms of tobacco as major health issues of the future.

Dr Wolff is currently a Reader in Addiction Science and Postgraduate Education at King's College London. Her main research interest is concerned with biomarkers of substance misuse and in particular recreational drug use. Her research portfolio includes investigation of the physiological effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use in a clubbing environment, in particular ecstasy-induced changes in water homeostatic measures. Individual differences in the metabolism of MDMA (CYP2D6 metabolizer status) and COMT rs4680 genotype have been shown to have an influence on various physiological phenotypes. She has recently chaired an expert panel on drug-driving for the UK, Department for Transport (2012) to make recommendations about which drugs should be included in regulations for the purposes of a new offence of drug-driving.

GLOSSARY

• Dokha: Tobacco product grown in Iran and popular in the Arab region. Tobacco leaves are mixed with bark and herbs and may come flavoured with dried fruits. The product is smoked using a special pipe.

• Gulf Region: In the present paper this refers to countries bordering the Arabian (Persian) Gulf and specifically to nations within the Gulf Cooperative Council including United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.

• Midwakh / medwakh: Traditional Pipe used specifically to smoke Dokha.

• Shisha: Tobacco product flavored with molasses and smoked through a waterpipe or “hookah.” This practice is traditional in many Arabic cultures as a social pastime and of growing popularity in North America and Europe.

• “Western” culture: Refers broadly to the values and social norms within European and related English speaking nations of predominantly secular or Christian faiths. In the present paper this term contrasts with the Gulf and Middle East Arabic nations where the culture is grounded in Islam and the Islamic Sharia laws.