What is the drug Khat all about?
The Kat leaves are chewed or brewed in tea and swallowed. The powder is usually snorted or injected.
The artificial form is more potent and is known as methcathinone. When made it is usually in a white/off-white powder. Both chemicals cathinone and methcathinone are harmful and speed up the functioning of the Central Nervous System. Although methcathinone is more potent, both forms of kat have similar symptoms and effects.
How is Khat used?
The Khat leaves are chewed or brewed in tea and swallowed. The powder is usually snorted or injected. When made available in the dance scene it is in a tablet form. Khat is used in a crash binge pattern (use a lot, go into withdrawal then use more to stop the withdrawal symptoms) that lasts four to six hours.
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Symptoms Of Khat Use?
- Dilated (Enlarged) Pupils
- Dehydration and Sweating caused by an increase in body temperature
- Weight Loss
- Insomnia (Problems Sleeping)
- Rapid Heart Beat
- Teeth grinding and jaw clenching often resulting in gum being chewed.
- Twitching
What Are The Effects Of Khat?
- Euphoria – feelings of extreme happiness
- Increased confidence – the user begins to talk more and feel good about themselves.
- Sharpened senses – becoming more alert
- Impaired Judgement and Concentration
- Increased Energy
- Rapid Speech
- Aggression
- Restlessness
- Mood Swings
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations (seeing, hearing or feeling things that are not really there)
What Are The Long-Term Effects?
- Addiction – dependency is developed rapidly especially to khat in the powder form. The risk of addiction is similar to tik and cocaine where the user will feel unable to cope once they have stopped using. Their daily use increases and withdrawal sets in.
- Decrease in mental health
This may involve:
- Psychosis: Feeling out of touch with reality; experiencing delusions, paranoia and hallucinating.
- Panic attacks and anxiety due to fear.
- Depression with the risk of suicide.
What happens when you stop using?
- Anxiety
- Irritability
Information taken from: Cape Town, Drug Counselling Center
