it’s all too easy for teens to buy dokha
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Last Updated : GMT 09:40:38
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

from shops in Dubai and Sharjah

It’s all too easy for teens to buy dokha

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicleIt’s all too easy for teens to buy dokha

Medwakh pipes
Sharjah - Arab Today

Sultan, 16, has been smoking his medwakh pipe every day for two years, and has no trouble buying the dokha needed for the rush he craves.

"I smoke medwakh. I like to smoke it because it usually takes one puff to make me light-headed," said Sultan, a public school pupil. "I’ve been smoking for more than two years and all of my friends smoke it too.

"We buy medwakh pipes and dokha from any tobacco shop. No one asks for IDs."

Sultan is one of a growing number of youngsters who are sold dokha from shops in Dubai and Sharjah.

Teenagers are turning to the traditional form of Arabic tobacco – sold in small bundles – as laws governing the sale of cigarettes and shisha have been tightened, with shops facing hefty fines if they sell to people under 18. Selling medwakh and dokha to minors is also illegal.

But Younes, 14, said he regularly visited shops in both emirates and was sold dokha for Dh25-Dh40, and pipes for Dh50, without hesitation.

Shopkeepers say dokha is popular among youngsters because it is cheap and lasts longer than cigarettes.

"A pack of cigarettes lasts one day. But dokha can last for two weeks," said a shopkeeper in Jamal Abdul Nasser Street, Sharjah.

He said he had no qualms about selling to teenagers because his dokha was of a high quality and "100 per cent pure Arabic tobacco".

Despite government efforts to help people to kick the habit, the number of smokers shows no sign of decreasing.

Almost 30 per cent of Emiratis in their 30s smoke with medwakh, figures from a health-screening programme last year in Abu Dhabi found.

Thabet Al Torasi, director general of Sharjah Municipal Council, said teenager smokers often took up the habit because of peer pressure.

"This is a big problem," Mr Al Torasi said. "One of the main reasons why smoking dokha is thriving among teenagers is that some people plant dokha indoors and sell it illicitly, besides shopkeepers who sell medwakh pipes to adolescents illegally."

To stop youngsters starting the habit, all groceries in residential areas and near schools in Sharjah were banned from selling cigarettes in 2013.

Nationwide, smoking is banned in cars in the presence of children under 12, in houses of worship, educational institutes and health or sports centres; and the sale of sweets resembling tobacco products is prohibited.

But Mr Al Torasi said enforcement could not simply begin and end with the authorities.

"Such action requires collaborative effort," he said. "It starts with parents, who should teach their children about the harmful effects of smoking and keep an eye on them to monitor their activities.

"I suggest stricter regulations and punishments against those who sell tobacco to teenagers and teens who buy it."

Alaa Al Halli, a teacher at Al Noor Private School in Sharjah, said at least one in five teenagers smoked a medwakh pipe.


"Smoking dokha gained popularity among teens for many reasons, including its cheap price and lack of knowledge about its harmful effects," Ms Al Halli said.

"Teenagers want to try everything. They believe that smoking medwakh is less harmful than other tobacco products, which is wrong."

Dr Mohammed Al Dasouqi, who heads an anti-smoking clinic in Dubai, said one of the main reasons smoking dokha was thriving among teens was because many of them saw their parents doing it.

He said the amount of nicotine in dokha is much higher than in cigarettes.

"It’s even called dokha because it makes whoever smokes it feel dizzy," Dr Al Dasouqi said.

Dr Babu Shersad of First Medical Centre said smoking a mewakh pipe led to higher doses of nicotine, which does long-term damage.

"Smoking affects the lungs and affects cardiovascular health because it thickens blood vessels, causing high blood pressure, which can affect the heart," Dr Shersad

Source :TheNational

themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

it’s all too easy for teens to buy dokha it’s all too easy for teens to buy dokha

 



Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle

GMT 06:29 2018 Sunday ,21 January

500 new trainees join US-backed Syria border force

GMT 10:31 2017 Sunday ,20 August

the history of solar eclipses

GMT 16:36 2017 Tuesday ,05 December

Gulf Air launches Bahrain Tourist Visa Service

GMT 03:19 2012 Saturday ,15 September

FREEDOM

GMT 06:56 2014 Friday ,12 September

No winners in Gaza

GMT 22:30 2012 Monday ,16 July

Sudan ruling party says protests \'ridiculous\'

GMT 07:09 2012 Wednesday ,20 June

Sudan and South Sudan border tensions

GMT 12:02 2012 Tuesday ,17 April

What the Living Do

GMT 17:33 2017 Saturday ,25 March

Caceres recalled to Paraguay squad for Brazil clash

GMT 17:18 2017 Tuesday ,19 December

Bahrain weather forecast

GMT 09:35 2017 Sunday ,29 October

Actress Annabella Sciorra accuses Weinstein of rape

GMT 13:43 2017 Thursday ,16 November

People Magazine names Blake Shelton 'sexiest man alive'

GMT 18:10 2017 Monday ,17 April

GCC Secretary-General Condemns Syria Blast

GMT 13:15 2017 Wednesday ,15 February

Inherited the talent to draw on glass

GMT 14:35 2017 Saturday ,25 March

Dar Essalam to Host Two Golf Competitions

GMT 07:22 2016 Saturday ,09 July

Gunfire near presidential palace in South Sudan

GMT 10:42 2017 Wednesday ,16 August

Chinese teen Internet addict dies

GMT 13:51 2017 Thursday ,21 September

King Salman meets with former Turkish president

GMT 09:31 2017 Wednesday ,29 March

NPRA holds training course

GMT 08:18 2017 Thursday ,14 December

Twitter makes 'tweetstorms' easier

GMT 17:19 2012 Thursday ,12 January

New electric-car racing championships
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
Themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle
 
 Themuslimchronicle Facebook,themuslimchronicle facebook  Themuslimchronicle Twitter,themuslimchronicle twitter Themuslimchronicle Rss,themuslimchronicle rss  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube  Themuslimchronicle Youtube,themuslimchronicle youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2023 ©

muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle muslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle themuslimchronicle
themuslimchronicle
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle, themuslimchronicle