Doctors seek UAE-wide research into dangers of smoking shisha

There are plenty of names for the region's traditional form of smoking - hookah, narghile, shisha or hubbly bubbly - but not so many statistics about its harmful effects.

This could be resolved, health officials say, through an all-encompassing local study.
Smoking shisha is a popular pastime across the region, particularly in the UAE where, according to a 2008 study by the World Health Organisation, more than a fifth of the population smokes some form of tobacco.
Without local data, pinpointing the health effects is difficult, said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, the head of the Ministry of Health's tobacco control committee.

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Now drive against surrogate ads to curb tobacco menace

The drug wing of the food and drug administration department is gearing up to take action against tobacco companies promoting their products through surrogate advertisements.
The drug wing is mulling the move after it noticed that smokeless tobacco manufacturing companies were putting advertisements of their products at various places including on city buses and no action has been taken against them. Senior drug inspector Ajay Thakur said, "Several smokeless tobacco manufacturing are promoting their products through surrogate advertisements. We will take action against them within a week."

Two women spared jail over party drug death of friend, 20

Jessica Hooks and Kirstie McInnes sobbed in the dock as they were sentenced in connection with the death of Aimee Costello, 20.

They pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Hooks also admitted supplying the drug and McInnes admitted being concerned in its supply. Hooks was jailed for 10 months and McInnes for six months, both suspended for 18 months.

They both claimed in statements that Aimee had provided the drug, but later made full admissions.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, sitting at Leeds Crown Court, told them: “If ever a case demonstrated the dangerousness of even class B drugs this is it. Many people seem to think that drugs like this, of the M-cat genre, are harmless. They are dangerous and as this case demonstrates they can