Khat

Details
  • Khat (Catha edulis Forsk, Celastraceae family) is a stimulant.
  • Stimulant drugs speed up the messages going between the brain and the body.
  • Other names for it include: qat, kat, chat
  • The khat plant is a leafy green shrub that can grow to tree size. The leaves and buds of the khat plant are used.
  • The fresh leaves and buds of the khat plant are chewed for their energising and stimulant effects.  Dried khat is commonly chewed and it can also be taken as a tea or smoked.
  • The chewing of khat leaves is common in some countries of east Africa and the Arabian peninsula. It has a deep-rooted social and cultural tradition in some Muslim, Somali and Yemeni cultures. In some Muslim countries in which alcohol is prohibited, khat is commonly used in social situations, although it is often condemned on religious grounds.
Effects

Khat is a stimulant that produces an effect within 20 minutes. Users usually chew 50 to 200 grams of the leaves. Following initial feelings of mild euphoria, talkativeness and suppression of appetite, users of khat have reported calming effects after a few hours. Other pleasurable effects may include increased alertness and excitement. Unpleasant effects can include impaired concentration and judgement, mood swings, confusion, disorientation and increase in nervousness and tension.

Unwanted physical and health effects associated with regular khat chewing include:

  • sleeplessness
  • nervousness
  • impotence
  • nightmares
  • irritability, feelings of anger and violent outbursts
  • constipation and anorexia
  • reduced birth weight in babies and reduced lactation in khat-chewing mothers
  • inflammation of the mouth and other parts of the oral cavity
  • oral cancer

 

 

Risks

Because khat is a plant, some people think that it is safe to use. But using any drug involves risk and here are the risks posed by khat:

  • You may develop insomnia and short-lived confusional states.
  • You can get high blood pressure, heart palpitations and heart problems with heavy use.
  • As khat can cause periods of increased libido, care may be needed to minimise the risk of unsafe sex and unwanted pregnancies.
  • Khat can inflame the mouth and damage the teeth; can reduce appetite and cause constipation, and there is concern about a longer-term risk of development of mouth cancers.
  • It can give you feelings of anxiety and aggression.
  • It can make pre-existing mental health problems worse and can cause paranoid and psychotic reactions (which may be associated with irritability, anxiety and losing touch with reality).
  • Khat can make a user psychologically dependent (with craving and a desire to keep using in spite of potential harm). When some users stop using they can feel lethargic or mildly depressed and may have a withdrawal period with fine tremors and nightmares.

 

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