Khat: A Review of Its Potential Harms to the Individual and Communities in the UK

by: Iversen, Les; James, Kyrie; Mathewson, Hew

Publication date: 2013

Topics: substance use disorders, chemical dependency, pharmacology, international, community, society, medical complications, education, prevention, treatment, stimulants, khat

Publisher: Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD)

Collection: salis; americana

Language: English

96 pages. UK (United Kingdom). Khat is a herbal product consisting of the leaves and shoots of the shrub Catha edulis. It is chewed to obtain a mild stimulant effect and is a less potent stimulant than other commonly used drugs, such as amphetamine or cocaine. This review includes these chapter topics: khat, the pharmacology of khat, medical harms, overview of the societal harms associated with khat use, international issues, education and prevention, treatment of khat use, concerns of communities and groups, and recommendations.