Khat
What is khat?
Khat is a herbal product consisting of the leaves and shoots of the shrub
Catha edulis.
It is cultivated in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Most commonly chewed to obtain a stimulant effect, dried plant material is sometimes made into tea or a chewable paste, Khat may also be smoked and even sprinkled on food
- Street names include: Qat, Qaadka, Chat and Quat
- In Kenya khat is often known as: Miraa, Kijiti, Gomba, Veve
The law
- Khat is not currently illegal in the UK, though two of the chemicals that are released when the plant is chewed, cathinone and cathine, are classified as Class C drugs
- Approximately 6 tons of khat arrives in the UK per week, mostly by air from Kenya. The bulk of this is in transit for supply to the United States of America. The UK is a base for khat distribution to many countries, including the US, where the plant is illegal.
History
- Evidence of khat use can be found in Arab journals dating from the 13th century
- The use of Khat is an established cultural tradition for many social situations in the main cultivation areas of : East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
- More recently khat use has risen in Europe including the UK, particularly among emigrants and refugees from countries such as Somalia, the Yemen and Ethiopia
Effects
- Khat degrades with time so it must be consumed within 36 hours of harvesting.
- The effects from chewing khat can be felt within 30minutes, though it may take two hours to take full effect (effects may last up to 20 hours)
- Khat consumption induces mild euphoria and excitement
- Khat induced manic behaviors, hyperactivity, and hallucinations
- Dilated pupils
- Although khat is a stimulant some users may experience a calming effect if used over a few hours
Purity
- Pesticide (dimethoate) residue has been found on khat leaves produced in Yemen. Chronic dimethoate poisoning can lead to weakness, fatigue, slurred speech and lack of co-ordination.
Risks
- Worsening of existing or latent psychiatric disorders
- There is evidence that chewing khat is a risk factor for the development of oral cancers
- Insomnia
- High blood pressure
- Impotence
- In men there is some evidence that using khat is associated with lower sperm count
- Anxiety and aggression
- Lethargy
- Nightmares and tremors
- May cause depression, though this is unproven
- Loss of touch with reality
- Permanent tooth darkening (of a greenish tinge)
- There is some evidence that khat affects the reproductive health of both sexes. In women it may be associated with delivery of low birth weight babies (as with smoking cigarettes), although the evidence for this is not strong.
- Khat use may cause inflammation of the liver, though this is unproven
Dependence and treatment
- Psychological dependence can result from regular use
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