Trajectories of hookah use among young adult college students in Texas, 2014–2019

The purpose of the study was to examine trajectories in hookah use behaviors across young adulthood and socio-demographic correlates of the trajectories. Data were drawn from Project M-PACT for the years 2014-2019. Participants were 5,220 college students aged 18 to 25 years at baseline. Growth curve models with an accelerated design were fit to examine four hookah use trajectories across ages 18 to 30, adjusted for covariates. Prevalence of current hookah use decreased between 2014 and 2019, from 17% to 7% and the frequency of use decreased by almost one day a month. Trajectories of hookah use alone and concurrent with cigarettes or with e-cigarettes also decreased as students increased in age. Current hookah users were likely to be young, male, racial/ethnic minority, and attending a four-year college. Observed disparities among hookah users have implications, in particular regarding the role of social context, race, and ethnicity, in tailoring smoking interventions.