Khat is a leafy green plant containing two main stimulant drugs which speed up your mind and body.
RELATED TERMS: QUAT, QAT, QAADKA, CHAT
Khat has a similar effect to speed, although it is less powerful than amphetamine. It is strongest when the fresh leaves are chewed but can also be made into a tea or chewable paste.
How Khat makes you feel
- More alert
- Happy and talkative
- A feeling of calm if it's chewed over a few hours, with some describing it as being 'blissed out'
The law
- Khat became a Class C drug on 24 June, 2014 meaning it is illegal to have or to supply khat
- It is an offence to bring khat into the country
- If you are caught with khat you could be arrested and face up to two years in prison and/or get an unlimited fine
- Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in jail and/or get an unlimited fine
Short-term effects
- Khat use suppresses appetite
- Liver toxicity from excessive use
- It may disrupt sleep and make pre-existing mental health problems worse
- It may make people feel more irritable and angry and possibly violent
- Psychological dependence can result from regular use so that users feel depressed and low unless they keep taking it
Long-term effects
- Tooth decay and periodontal disease
- Gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation, ulcers, inflammation of the stomach, and increased risk of upper gastrointestinal tumours
- Cardiovascular disorders such as irregular heartbeat, decreased blood flow, and heart attack