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yesilay.org.tr
45
YEŞiLAY
•
SPRING 2015
People
have
misinformation
that water-pipe
smoke is cleansed
through water and
is not addictive like
cigarette.
terminal diseases, is an important
public health concern that must be
struggled against. That is why The
Green Crescent has decided to deal
with this water-pipe problem.
Certainly, there is a target group of
this campaign. What is the goal of this
campaign? What do you want to obtain?
We aim to create an awareness about the harms of
water-pipe, change illusions and wrong attitudes related
to water-pipe and finally make a change in behaviors
with this campaign. Because, focus group discussions
and surveys conducted before this campaign has
showed that in comparison to smoking, there is a low
awareness about the harms of water-pipe. This is
the first thing we aim to change with the help of the
campaign.
To evaluate a project, report its findings and take action
according to its result is quite important. You mentioned
surveys; can you share the data of this project with us?
We conducted a survey in 16 cities talking to 1282 people
before campaign. According to survey, 7, % of people,
ages from 18 to 64, smoke water pipe; while 11.2% of
young people, ages from 18 to 24, smoke it.
57% of people, who smoke water-pipe, do this with
their friends. And 88% of water-pipe smokers choose
aromatic ones while this rate has been found higher in
young people (from 18 As data have showed, 88% of
water-pipe smokers go to cafes for water-pipe (shisha
cafes)
Besides, we have understood that awareness about the
harms of water-pipe is lower than those of cigarette
and a considerable amount of participators have
misinformation about water-pipe For example they think
its smoke is cleansed through water and it is not
addictive just like cigarette.
Is there any other water-pipe campaign in the world that
you imitate? Or else is this a first campaign in the world?
To be honest, our campaign is the first water-pipe
campaign developed with the help of evidence-based
methods. We want to extend the scope of this campaign
and popularize it and want to be pioneers.
Don’t you think that these kinds of campaigns, which
“harms” people’s pleasures, bring discussions about
freedom?
We don’t think like that. Water-pipe is an addictive and
fatal tobacco product. Informative campaign against it
cannot be considered as intervention in freedom, but
rather defending individual’s right to healthy life.
Do researches really suggest that water-pipe is as
dangerous as cigarette?
Harms of water-pipe are no fewer than those of cigarette,
even though water-pipe smokers see water-pipe more
innocent. Water-pipe causes lots of diseases, too, such
as cancers, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular
diseases.
Water-pipe tobacco is burnt in coal and this increases
poisonous substances in its smoke. Also, duration of
water-pipe smoking is longer and people expose to more
poisonous substances.