Why do people use it?  Each culture has it’s own rituals and social ‘drugs’ which are acceptable to them. Like Europeans who drink tea of coffee, some communities and cultures, particularly older members of Somali communities, chew Khat. It is usually chewed to a pulp (for up to 5 hours!) and then spat out and it can also be brewed into a tea.

The stimulant effects are often described as a mixture between caffeine and amphetamine but less intense than cocaine.  It makes the users feel alert, relaxed, thirsty and talkative. Use of Khat also reduces the appetite. The potency of Khat deteriorates quite quickly after picking and therefore by the time it reaches the UK it’s potency is not that high.

Is it dangerous?  The majority of people who use Khat do not experience serious problems. However, daily use can make the user feel anxious, cause ‘manic’ behaviour, irritability, paranoia, tiredness and depression – much like the after effects you would experience after daily amphetamine use.  Chewing Khat can lead to a sore mouth that may cause infections.  There is some evidence that excessive chewing can lead to the risk of heart disease and cancer of the mouth.

 * Trafficking Warning *

 Khat may be legal in Britain and look like a load of dried leaves and give the impression that it’s not serious stuff. A number of people from the UK are behind bars in foreign jails having agreed to carry (free of charge or paid) ‘bundles’ of what they were told were rare flowers in their luggage or even knowing that it was illegal in the country they were travelling to.

Penalties in other counties across Europe, America and Canada are particularly high.