Khat

Arabian Tea
Chat
Cat
Quat
Catha Edulis

Scientific Names: Catha edulis from the Celastraceae family.

Generic Names: Catha Edulis

You cannot always be sure that what you buy is what you get, but if you want to send any substance off for testing, you can send it to WEDINOS

What does it look like?

A flowering evergreen shrub native to tropical East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. In its natural form, leaves and stems.

Effects of Khat

Desired Effects:

Talkative
Mild euphoria & excitement
Alertness, excitement
Increased libido.

Side Effects:

Insomnia
Loss of appetite
Dry mouth
Hyperactivity
Dilated pupils
Constipation
Urine retention.

Excessive use can cause paranoia, insomnia, weight loss and in frequent high doses may trigger psychotic reactions and make mental health problems worse. May damage the liver. Like any drug, long term use may lead to psychological dependence and cravings when use is stopped.

Short term risks:

Frequent chewing can cause tooth and gum damage, and jaw problems. Chewing in unhygienic settings can lead to health problems.

How does Khat work?

Central nervous system stimulant. Khat is a stimulant drug but is much less potent than street stimulants like amphetamine.

Legal status of Khat

Class C drug in the UK under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

How is Khat taken?

Although khat can be ingested as an infusion (tea) or smoked, by far the most common route of administration is to chew the plant.

Paraphernalia

If brewed into a tea, tea making equipment.

Medical uses of Khat

Khat is used as a traditional medicine by some indigenous people of East Africa, but neither khat nor its isolated active ingredients (cathinone and cathine) have been widely recognised for their therapeutic use.

Where Does it Come From?

Khat has been used in parts of East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula for centuries. Khat chewing has a long history as a social custom amongst the communities from these areas. It is used in some Somali, Yemeni and Ethiopian communities in Britain.

Helping Services

Most areas of the UK have 'street agencies' or projects (sometimes called community drug services or community drug teams) which offer a range of services including information and advice, counselling, needle exchanges and sometimes support groups and complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Multicultural organisations may be able to advise on local sources of expertise on khat. The increase in stimulant use has led to some agencies offering specialist counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy, acupuncture and other alternative therapies and prescribing of anti-depressants, and also possible referral to residential rehabilitation. Some services have extended working hours and may offer weekend support. GPs and possibly the local hospital A&E department can make referrals to specialist drug services as well as general medical services, information and advice often in partnership with a drug agency or Drug Dependency Unit.

Parents & other relatives

Drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents of people using these drugs. Many street agencies can provide relative support groups or counselling for family members, partners etc.

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