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Khat
Australian Drug Foundation © 2005
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Download a fact sheet, in English, Amharic, Oromo or Somali.
What is khat?
Khat is a stimulant. Stimulant drugs speed up the messages going between the brain and the body. Khat can make a person feel alert and energised but it can also cause a number of health and sleeping problems, as well as mood swings.
What does it look like?
Khat (Catha edulis Forsk, Celastraceae family) is a leafy green shrub that can grow to tree size.
How is it used?
The fresh leaves and buds of the khat plant are chewed for their energising and stimulant effects. In Victoria, dried khat is more commonly chewed. It can also be taken as a tea or smoked.
Is it legal?
Khat is not illegal in Australia, but its import is very strictly controlled. Khat may only be imported into Australia for personal use by a person who has the appropriate licenses and permits.
A person wishing to import khat must first obtain a License to Import khat. They also need a Permit to Import for each shipment of khat. A licence and permit holder may import up to 5 kilograms of khat per month, for personal use only.
Effects of khat
Use of khat increases a person's heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature and blood pressure, and can make a person feel alert. A person who chews khat may also feel excited, have increased energy, be talkative and lose their appetite. Generally, people start to feel the effects of khat within 20 minutes of use, with the strongest effects being felt around 3 hours after use.
Immediate effects
The immediate effects of khat include:
- increased heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature and blood pressure
- increased alertness, excitement and energy
- talkativeness
- decreased appetite.
Long-term effects
Unwanted physical and health effects associated with long-term use of khat include:
- increases in severity of psychological problems
- difficulty sleeping
- impotence
- gastrointestinal tract problems, such as constipation
- inflammation of the mouth and other parts of the oral cavity
- oral cancer.
Using khat over a long period of time or in large amounts can also lead to problems such as depression, anxiety and irritation. It can sometimes lead to a person developing more severe psychological problems.
Tolerance and dependence
It is not yet known whether a person can develop a physical or psychological dependence (addiction) on khat. However, heavy khat chewers may feel some withdrawal symptoms if they stop chewing.
If a person is used to functioning with khat, they may become physically dependent on it. If a person feels they need to chew khat to live their day-to-day life and be happy, they may be psychologically dependent on it. The person may feel they cannot deal with a particular situation such as a social gathering or a long work shift without chewing khat. Stopping their khat use may cause a person who is psychologically dependent on khat to feel anxious and irritable. They may also feel isolated, especially if the person is used to participating in khat chewing sessions with their friends.
Withdrawal
Heavy khat chewers have been shown to experience withdrawal symptoms such as extreme tiredness and lack of energy, difficulty performing normal daily activities and slight trembling several days after having stopped chewing khat. Withdrawal symptoms may occur because the body is used to having khat and now has to get used to working without it.
Treatment options
There are a number of drug treatment options available in Australia. While abstinence may be a suitable treatment aim for some people, many programs recognise that for others this may not be possible or realistic. Most programs adopt strategies that have an overall aim of reducing the harms and risks related to the person’s drug use.
Some treatment options include counselling, group therapy and withdrawal. Residential and "out-patient" programs are available.
Treatment is more effective if tailored to suit a person's circumstances, and usually involves a combination of methods.
For referral to a treatment service, contact the alcohol and drug information service in your state or territory.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
If khat is used during pregnancy the baby may be born smaller and lighter than other babies. Low birth weight can be associated with infections and breathing problems.
Chewing khat appears to reduce breast milk production. It is also possible that the drug will be present in the breast milk and may have adverse effects on the baby.
See your doctor or other health professional if you are taking or planning to take any substances while pregnant or breastfeeding, including prescribed and over-the-counter medications.
Reducing the risks
The following guidelines may be of help in minimising the harms associated with khat use:
- If you are a regular user, try to reduce the quantity you chew, with reasonable breaks between sessions.
- Avoid drinks that contain caffeine such as cola and coffee. Drink water instead.
- Avoid using alcohol or other drugs before, during or after your khat session. Mixing drugs can be dangerous.
- If you smoke, limit the number of cigarettes you smoke while chewing khat. Avoid crowded sessions and keep windows open to allow in fresh air.
- Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods, and ensure you eat before and after your session.
- Try to avoid chewing khat late at night, and never take sleeping pills unless prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid holding the khat in your cheek for a long time, as this can increase your risk of getting an oral infection.
- If you are pregnant, avoid chewing khat, as this can lead to serious health risks to the baby.
- The safest way to avoid problems with khat chewing is to avoid use.
More information