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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. May 26, 2025. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is committed to raising awareness about the dangers of smoking, especially among youth, and its negative impact on non-communicable diseases in the Caribbean.

In the Caribbean, tobacco smoking is a major health issue, with 15% to 25% of adults participating in this practice, while tobacco-related illnesses account for about 10% to 12% of deaths in the Region. CARPHA’s Executive Director Dr. Lisa Indar expressed her concern with the increasing popularity of hookahs among young adults in social settings; also noting the rise of hookah cafés and lounges, which has changed how people consume tobacco.

World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) is commemorated each year on May 31^st with this year’s theme being ‘Exposing lies, protecting lives: Unmask the appeal of tobacco and nicotine products’. On the observance of World No Tobacco Day, Dr. Indar stated, “Many mistakenly believe hookah smoke is safer due to water filtration, but studies show it contains harmful substances comparable to cigarette smoke. Reports suggest that around 10% to 15% of college students in countries like Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago use hookahs”.

Dr. Indar added, “Novel tobacco products like vape, hookah, and other heated tobacco products also pose a challenge to present tobacco control policies, which leads to a need for innovative regulatory strategies. Research shows that even marketed reduced-risk products, like e-cigarettes, still carry risks, especially for teens who are in a critical developmental stage. Early exposure makes them more likely to become dependent on nicotine and eventually increases the likelihood of using traditional tobacco products in the future”.

Tobacco smoking leads to 8 million preventable deaths each year, with secondary exposure to tobacco smoke causing nearly one million premature deaths annually. Tobacco use is a growing health risk for several non- communicable diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

CARPHA continues to be instrumental in fighting tobacco use in the Caribbean region through its collaboration with various organisations such as health ministries, the World Health Organization (WHO), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and non-profits to track usage and create effective policies. The initiatives championed through this coalition include expert advice, public awareness campaigns, and training to support tobacco reduction programmes.

For CARPHA and other regional health agencies, addressing new health trends, such as increased hookah use among young adults, as part of a broader tobacco control effort requires a partnership of local governments and international groups, such as the WHO, as well. This includes campaigns to highlight the dangers of waterpipe smoking and advocate for stronger tobacco regulations. By addressing hookah smoking in tobacco reduction strategies, health experts aim to reduce related health risks. These efforts, as rolled out by CARPHA and its allies, would help promote new tobacco control strategies, especially on World No Tobacco Day.