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Khat: Social Habit or Cultural Burden?

Khat: Social Habit or Cultural Burden?. Manaf Khatib Supervised by: Dr. Ken Checinski. Study Aim. To Investigate the psychological and socio-economical ramifications of Khat on its users and the consequent repercussions on their communities.

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Khat: Social Habit or Cultural Burden?

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  1. Khat: Social Habit or Cultural Burden? Manaf Khatib Supervised by: Dr. Ken Checinski

  2. Study Aim To Investigate the psychological and socio-economical ramifications of Khat on its users and the consequent repercussions on their communities. • Prevalence of Khat usage in East African and Yemeni communities in the United Kingdom • Survey the general views of communities in question, regarding the socio-economic, legal, and biological aspects of Khat

  3. What is Khat? Scientific Name:Catha Edulis History: Also known as Herari, Miraa, Tohai and Flower of Paradise • Khat has been cultivated and used in Yemen and Eastern Africa for centuries. • The first mention of Khat in western literature was by a Swedish Botanist, Peter Froskal, who studied the plant during a visit to the Arabian Peninsula in 1768. The Catha Edulis Shrub

  4. Khat in the UK Legal Status: • Legal • Isolating Cathinone and Cathine (the main constituents) is illegal • Listed is a medicinal product under the medicine act 1968 • Declared as Vegetable when imported • Illegal in France, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Slovenia • Cathinone Classified as a Schedule I narcotic in the USA • Strictly Forbidden in Saudi Arabia

  5. Khat in the UK Prevalence: • Limited to Specific Ethnic Communities • East African and Yemeni Communities • Somali Population in the UK is estimated to be around 90,000 • 2005 Home Office Report1: • 207 members of the Somali Community (152 men, and 55 women) • 78% of the total sample surveyed reported that they have used Khat in their lifetime, • 86% of that sample reported consuming it in the last week. • 6% of the total sample used Khat on a daily basis. • 76% of the sample reported to use Khat more frequently in London than they did in Somalia 1Griffiths, P. (1998) Khat Use in London – A Study of Khat Use Among of Sample Of Somalis Living in London. Home Office Paper 26. Stationery Office

  6. Cost and Distribution • £3-5 for a Bundle about the same price of a pack of cigarettes, yet far more satisfying for its consumer. • Available on the interent for £6 (delivery included) • In contrast, the price of Khat in the US can go up to $80 a bundle. • 7 tonnes of Khat arrive per week. Heathrow is regarded as the main hub of transport to other European countries. Bundle of Khat Wrapped in a Banana Leaf

  7. Khat Use • Ingested by chewing on a handful of leaves • the literal translation of the Arabic word that is used regarding Khat consumption is Storage. • Khat leaves are rolled into a ball which causes the cheeks to typically bulge; looking like a user is suffering of some sort of abscess or inflammation to someone unfamiliar with Khat • The leaves are kept in a user’s mouth for a while, as the active constituents of Khat are slowly released from the leaves and mix with a person’s saliva, which is then swallowed • legitimate meeting places called ‘Mafresh’ have appeared in various places across the UK.

  8. Social Implications • Khat is an integral part of the social and cultural traditions in Yemen and Eastern Africa. • Although being attributed to people of low socio-economic status in the UK. in Yemen and Eastern Africa it’s consumed by people from all professions and backgrounds. “Khat never used to be a problem. My father was a banker and he was a chewer. After work he would meet friends and they would chew and talk about the day's events and exchange ideas’’2. • But this is not the case in the UK; In the previous study mentioned 83% of the total sample surveyed were unemployed 2Summers, C. BBC NEWS. (2006). Harmless Habit or Dangerous Drug? [Online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4615415.stm (Accessed: 28 Dec 2006)

  9. Pharmacology • Main Constituents: Cathinone and Cathine. Varies from 77.7 to 342.8 mg/100g • Natural Amphetamine:

  10. Central Increases the levels of Dopaminergic and Noradrenergic transmission in the brain Serotonin levels are increased in response to Cathinone administration3 Uptake-1 inhibition Peripheral indirect sympathomimetic actions “The average maximal plasma concentration of Cathinone (Tmax) occurred at 2.3 hours and 2.6 hours for Cathine”4 Mechanism of Action 4Toennes, SW et al. (2003) Pharmacokinetics of cathinone, cathine and norephedrine after the chewing of khat leaves. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 56:125-130 3Kalix, P & Khan, I. (1984) Khat: an amphetamine-like plant material. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 62, 681–686.

  11. Effects of Khat • Physiological: Sympathomemetic • CVS: Hypertension  Tachycardia + Increased TPR, AMI • GI: Dry Mouth, Constipation, Indigestion, Leukoplakia • Other: Decreased Birth Weight, Cathine present in Breast milk • Psychological: • Increased Dopaminergic/ Noradrenergic Transmission • Hyperactivity, Increased Alertness, Euphoria • Plausible link with Amphetamine-induced Psychosis • Socio-Economic: • Unemployment • Low level of education • Mean age of users 31-36 yrs  Economically active age group Khat Induced Oral Lesions

  12. Survey • 62 individuals of the Somali community in Streatham that attended a Mafresh for the purpose of socializing and chewing Khat were surveyed

  13. Social Attitudes to Khat

  14. Cultural Views and Attitudes: • 76% Strongly Agree/Agree Users Chew more Khat in the UK than Somalia • 94% Strongly Agree/Agree that Khat brings them together • 35% Strongly Agree that its isolates them from the British Society • 66% Strongly Agree it maintains their national identity

  15. Health and Social Aspects: • 92% Strongly Agree/ Agree that they chew Khat due to legal status • 95% Strongly Agree/ Agree that they chew Khat due to price • 74% Strongly Disagreed/Disagreed that Khat has harmful effects on Health • 53% disagree respectively that Khat has negatively affected their family life

  16. In contrast with Cigarettes/Alcohol: • 60% Strongly Disagree/ Disagree that their Khat chewing habits is preventing them from obtaining a full time job • 80% Strongly Disagree/ Disagree that they would rather have their children smoke cigarettes than chew Khat • 100% Strongly Disagree that they would rather have their children drink alcohol than chew Khat

  17. Conclusion • Widespread Use in Specific Communities • Dire Physiological/Psychological/Social Ramifications • Mild Chemical Addiction + Strong Social Addiction • Complex Matter  importance of Khat in Culture • Issue Needs to be addressed • Users are victims of Vicious Cycle

  18. Recommendations • Taxation of Khat (similar to cigarettes) • Regulation of Mafresh’s to ensure hygiene and closing times • Monitoring Imports  Pesticides / Bacteria • Educate the Community and Empower them to unbridle themselves from Khat’s control • Prohibit its sale to minors • Encourage shops/restaurants to ban it on premises

  19. Thank You

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