Despite the harmful effect on health, e-cigarette and hookah smoking in youth in the U.S. has increased. Developing tailored e-cigarette and hookah cessation programs for youth is imperative. The aim of this study was to identify predictor variables such as social, mental, and environmental determinants that cause nicotine addiction in youth e-cigarette or hookah users and build nicotine addiction prediction models using machine learning algorithms. A total of 6511 participants were identified as ever having used e-cigarettes or hookah from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (2019) datasets. Prediction models were built by Random Forest with ReliefF and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO). ReliefF identified important predictor variables, and the Davies–Bouldin clustering evaluation index selected the optimal number of predictors for Random Forest. A total of 193 predictor variables were included in the final analysis. Performance of prediction models was measured by Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Confusion Matrix. The results suggested high performance of prediction. Identified predictor variables were aligned with previous research. The noble predictors found, such as ‘witnessed e-cigarette use in their household’ and ‘perception of their tobacco use’, could be used in public awareness or targeted e-cigarette and hookah youth education and for policymakers.

To date, no smoking cessation programs are available for Arab American (ARA) men, who are a vulnerable population with high rates of smoking. Thus, the primary aim of this one group pre-test/post-test study was to assess the effectiveness of Sehatack—a culturally and linguistically tailored smoking cessation program for ARA men. The study sample was 79 ARA men with a mean age of 43 years who smoked between 5 and 40 cigarettes (mean = 19.75, SD = 9.1) per day (98.7%). All of the participants reported more interest in smoking cessation post-intervention and many of the participants in the baseline (38.5%) and post-intervention phases (47.7%) wanted to quit smoking ”very much”. For daily smokers who completed the smoking cessation program, the median number of cigarettes smoked daily was significantly lower than those in the post-intervention phase (Z = −6.915, p < 0.001). Results of this preliminary study indicate that: (a) Sehatack may be a promising way for ARA men to quit smoking, and (b) culturally relevant smoking cessation counselors can be trained to recruit and retain ARA smokers in an intensive group smoking cessation program. Strengths of this study were community engagement and rapport between three faith organizations and the University of Florida College of Nursing. However, a larger trial is needed to address study limitations and to confirm benefits in this population.

(1) Introduction: Arab American (ArA) men have higher smoking rates than the general population, driven by cultural norms. Culturally tailored interventions that incorporate ArA cultural, linguistic, and social contexts are essential for addressing tobacco use and promoting health equity. This study aimed to evaluate a culturally tailored smoking cessation intervention for ArA men living in North Carolina. (2) Methods: This pilot study employed a one-group pre- and post-test design to evaluate program effectiveness within financial and time constraints. The participants completed questionnaires and Carbon monoxide measurements and were provided with Nicotine Replacement therapy. (3) Results: The study found that participants experienced anxiety and stress when delaying their first morning cigarette, which hindered cessation. Although smoking was reduced, relapse was common, highlighting the need for personalized support, especially for those with higher nicotine dependence. While telephone Motivational Interviewing helped reduce anxiety, it was insufficient for complete cessation, underscoring the need for tailored approaches addressing both psychological and physical factors. (4) Conclusions: The study suggests that culturally tailored telephone counseling did not show promise as a smoking cessation strategy for Arab Americans in North Carolina due to low participation. The sample size is really too small to test the efficacy of the intervention itself. It seems to have been more successful in another state. Future efforts should address cultural factors, emerging nicotine products, and expanded research. The project is significant for addressing health disparities among Arab Americans by integrating culturally relevant smoking cessation strategies with evidence-based methods like Nicotine Replacement Therapy.

Hookah smoking has become a persistent social phenomenon among young adults in the United States, despite decades of tobacco control efforts. Moreover, hookah smoking presents unique public health challenges due to its strong social appeal, cultural relevance, and widespread use in urban centers and college communities. This paper provides a broad review of recent trends, health implications, regulatory responses, and sociocultural factors influencing hookah smoking. A narrative literature review was conducted using peer-reviewed articles and grey literature sources published between 2019–2025. Electronic databases included PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar, along with reports from professional organizations and government agencies including CDC, FDA, WHO, and health department agencies, to review current public health recommendations and practice guidelines. Review materials were selected that focus on prevalence, health implications, and regulations of hookah smoking. Findings were synthesized to identify key applications, challenges and concerns, and future directions. This review provided a rapid and broad review of the current trends, health implications, regulatory responses, and sociocultural factors of hookah smoking among young adults in the United States. Interdisciplinary research and policy innovation are necessary to address the ongoing public health burden of hookah smoking among young adults in the United States.