Street Names
Khat (cat), qat ( Yemen ), , tohai, tschat ( Ethiopia ), chat, qaadka, miraa ( Kenya ) Abyssinian tea, African tea, African salad
Brief Description
Khat (catha edulis) is an drought-tolerant evergreen shrub that's leaves contain cathinone and cathine. These leaves are traditionally chewed by people of East Africa and the Middle East as a amphetamine-like stimulant. As the leaves mature or dry, cathinone is converted to cathine, which significantly reduces its stimulatory properties.
What is Khat?
Khat) pronounced “cot” is a natural stimulant from the Catha Edulis plant found in the flowering evergreen tree or large shrub which grows in East Africa and Southern Arabia. It reaches heights from 3 to six metres and its scrawny leaves resemble withered basil.
Fresh Khat leaves are crimson-brown and glossy but become yellow-green and leathery as they age.
They also emit a strong smell. The most favoured part of the leaves is the young shoots near the top of the plant. However leaves and stems at the middle and lower sections are also used.
Apparently Khat was taken socially to produce excitation, banish sleep, and promote communication. It was used as a stimulant to dispel feelings of hunger and fatigue.
Khat was used in Yemen even before coffee and it was immensely popular.
In animals, Khat produces excitation and increased motor activity. In humans, it is a stimulant producing a feeling of exaltation, a feeling of being liberated from space and time.
Khat is usually chewed in company, but may be used by individuals to enhance their working capacity. In some countries, such as in Yemen, ‘Khat parties’ also known as majlis, have a long history as part of formal social customs; for example, to encourage discussion of community issues. The majlis had their own traditional rules about the appropriate age, time, style and quantity of use.
Upon first chewing Khat, the initial effects were unpleasant and included dizziness. Gradually, more pleasant feelings replaced these symptoms. For example, feelings of bliss, clarity of thought and overly energetic. Sometimes Khat produced depression, sleepiness, and then deep sleep. The chronic user tended to be euphoric continually. In rare cases the subjects became aggressive and overexcited.
How and why is it used?
How-Khat is normally chewed like tobacco. The fresh leaves, twigs, and shoots of the Khat shrub are chewed, and then retained in the cheek and chewed occasionally to release the active drug. Dried plant material can be made into tea or a chewable paste. Khat can also be smoked and even sprinkled on food.
Why-Khat is generally used by individuals as a recreational drug. Historically, Khat has been used for medicinal purposes and as an aphrodisiac, though it has also been used for recreational purposes. References to Khat use can be found in 18th –Century Arab journals describing how physicians prescribed Khat to treat depression and lack of energy.
Effects of Khat use
Some of the effects might include
- Hallucinations
- Bizarre thoughts
- Schizophrenia
- High blood pressure
- Rapid breathing
- Depression
- Nightmares
- Heightened alertness
- Suppressed appetite for food and sex
- Able to stay awake for long periods of time
- Aggressive behavior
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Expanded pupil
Chronic khat abuse can result in symptoms such as physical exhaustion, violence, and suicidal depression, which are similar to amphetamine addiction.
Minimising the harms.
- The safest way to avoid problems with Khat chewing is to avoid use.
- If you are a regular user, try to reduce the quantity of your chewing, with reasonable intervals between sessions.
- Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks such as cola and coffee. Drink water instead.
- Avoid using alcohol or other drugs during or after your Khat session. Mixing drugs can be dangerous.
- Have a balanced diet, and ensure you eat before and after your session.
- Try to avoid chewing Khat late at night, and never take sleeping pills unless prescribed by you doctor.
Laws on Khat in Australia
While it is not illegal to use khat in Australia, there are strict controls on how it is imported. Its use has been largely confined to people originally from East Africa and the Gulf. For more information on licensing and importation http://www.tga.gov.au/import/khatinfo.htm
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