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Khat Addiction

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Textbook of Addiction Treatment

Abstract

Khat leaves are traditionally consumed in African and Arab countries around the Horn of Africa. The central and peripheral stimulant alkaloid cathinone (S-(-)-a-aminopropiophenone) is considered to be the main psychoactive compound in the khat leaves. The leaves and tender stems are usually chewed and kept in a tight wad in the cheek pocket. Within about 15–30 minutes, the user experiences physiological excitability, euphoria, talkativeness, and flow of ideas. While khat production and consumption is popular in traditional user countries and use patterns swiftly change to excessive usage, particularly in East Africa, the substance is treated as illegal in the rest of the world. Today, cathinone is listed in Schedule I of the 1971 International Convention on Psychotropic Substances, although the leaves of khat are not internationally controlled. Khat use is associated with a number of mental health problems. A problem with diagnosis of khat use disorders is that established criteria are not easily applicable. Since the first edition of this textbook, some research has been done on khat; however, the current empirical knowledge base is still limited on prevalence and use patterns; most studies that associate khat use with mental and physical health problems have weak designs and treatment studies are rare. There is a need to build up research and treatment capacities in the main khat use countries. There is also a need to develop adequate legal regulations, monitoring systems, and public health responses that moderate between economic, cultural, and health viewpoints.

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Further Reading

  • Klein A, Beckerleg S, Hailu D. Regulating Khat – dilemmas and opportunities for the international drug control system. Int J Drug Policy. 2009;20(6):509–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mihretu A, Nhunzvi C, Fekadu A, Norton S, Teferra S. Definition and validity of the construct “Problematic Khat Use”: a systematic review. Eur Addict Res. 2019;25(4):161–71. https://doi.org/10.1159/000499970.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odenwald M, Warfa N, Bhui K, Elbert T. The stimulant khat–another door in the wall? A call for overcoming the barriers. J Ethnopharmacol. 2010;132(3):615–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Odenwald M, al’Absi M. Khat use and related addiction, mental health and physical disorders: the need to address a growing risk. East Mediterr Health J. 2017;23(3):236–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Konstanz University, Konstanz, Germany

    Michael Odenwald

  2. Global Drug Policy Observatory, University of Swansea, Swansea, UK

    Axel Klein

  3. Maltepe University, Maltepe/İstanbul, Turkey

    Nasir Warfa

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  1. Michael Odenwald
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  2. Axel Klein
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  3. Nasir Warfa
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Correspondence to Michael Odenwald .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Addiction Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Nady el-Guebaly

  2. Mental Health Department, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Monza e Brianza, Italy

    Giuseppe Carrà

  3. Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Marc Galanter

  4. Population and Behavioural Science Division (Psychiatry and Addictions), University of St Andrews, St.Andrews, UK

    Alexander M. Baldacchino

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Odenwald, M., Klein, A., Warfa, N. (2021). Khat Addiction. In: el-Guebaly, N., Carrà, G., Galanter, M., Baldacchino, A.M. (eds) Textbook of Addiction Treatment. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-36391-8_17

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