Khat contains natural drugs called cathinone and cathine. These drugs aren’t as strong as synthetic cathinones, also known as bath salts. But natural cathinone in khat can cause serious health problems, including addiction.
Cathine is weaker than cathinone, has a lower potential for abuse and isn’t associated with serious health problems.
- Abuse Potential
- High
- Scientific Names
- Cathinone, Cathinine
- Drug Class
- Stimulant
- Street Names
- Abyssinian Tea, African Salad, Bushman’s Tea, Qat, Kat Chat Miraa
- Side Effects
- Anxiety, Restlessness, Seizure, Heart Problems, Breathing Problems
- How It’s Used
- Chewed, Swallowed, Smoked
Khat use is prevalent in African and Arabian countries. In the United States, the drug is most commonly used by immigrants from Ethiopia, Yemen and Somalia, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The DEA classifies cathinone and anything containing cathinone as a Schedule I controlled substance. That means khat has no medical use and a high potential for abuse. Cathine is a Schedule IV substance which means it has some medical use and a lower potential for abuse.
How Khat Is Used
Most people chew the leaves, twigs and shoots of khat plant into a paste and hold the paste in the cheek. They also tend to drink large amounts of water or soda while chewing khat to combat the drug’s bitter taste.
In addition to chewing, other methods of using khat include:
- Brewing it in tea
- Sprinkling it on food
- Smoking it
Khat is consumed only when it’s fresh. Within 48 hours of cutting khat leaves or removing the plant from the soil, cathinone in the plant turns into cathine. The plant also dries and degrades.
To prevent degradation, the drug is often wrapped in banana leaves. This preserves the plant material for an extended period of time.
Effects of Khat
Unlike the effects of bath salts, the effects of khat are generally mild. In parts of Africa and the Middle East, consuming khat is described as similar to drinking coffee. But the drug has also been referred to as a natural amphetamine because of its stimulant properties.
Short-Term Effects
The peak effects of khat are generally felt within 15 to 30 minutes of chewing the drug. Khat causes increased energy and mild euphoria. It’s sometimes described as a social drug because it makes people relaxed and talkative. The drug can also cause unpleasant side effects.
- Anxiety
- Difficulty thinking
- Tension
- Restlessness
- Brief hallucinations
The duration of effects depends on the method of use and the strength of the drug. In general, effects of khat last between 90 minutes and three hours.
Recreational khat use is usually followed by a crash. Aftereffects of khat include trouble sleeping, numbness, difficulty concentrating and mood problems.
Some experts say khat is more similar to cocaine than coffee because of the drug’s side effects. If someone uses large doses or a strong batch of khat, they can become over-talkative, hyperactive, anxious, irritable and aggressive. Khat has also caused insomnia and symptoms of psychosis.
Long-Term Effects
Repeated use of khat can cause mental health issues. Experts disagree about whether the drug causes physical dependence or tolerance. Rare cases of withdrawal have been reported, and limited data suggests that tolerance develops slowly if the drug is consistently used.
Tolerance means the body adapts to the drug and requires higher doses to achieve the same effects. Dependence is characterized by a reliance on the drug to feel normal and the development of withdrawal symptoms when the drug isn’t used.
- Migraines
- Dry mouth
- Heart problems
- Bronchitis
- Gum disease
- Anorexia nervosa
- Liver cirrhosis
- Impotence
Regular use of large doses of khat may increase the risk of psychosis. However, some experts believe khat causes psychosis only in people who are already at risk for developing the illness. Suicidal thoughts or attempts after khat use are uncommon but have occurred.
Is Khat Addictive?
Khat can be addictive, but it probably isn’t as addictive as stimulants such as amphetamine or cocaine. Experts disagree on the addictive potential of khat. Addiction is defined as compulsive drug use despite negative consequences.
The drug can cause serious short- and long-term health problems, and people who use khat do so often. While signs of addiction such as tolerance and withdrawal are rare, symptoms of psychological dependence appear to be common.
People who are psychologically dependent believe they need the drug to feel normal. They may think they need khat to fit in or socialize.
Abbreviated Criteria for Addiction
| Common? |
Criterion |
Description |
| ✔ |
Strong desire or compulsion to use the substance. |
People who use khat often believe the drug is an important part of their daily life. |
| X |
Difficulty controlling substance-taking behavior. |
People rarely experience problems quitting khat. |
| X |
Physical withdrawal symptoms. |
Khat withdrawal is rare. |
| X |
Evidence of tolerance. |
Tolerance to khat rarely develops. |
| ✔ |
Neglect of other interests due to time spent using the substance. |
People who use khat have reported neglecting family, work and religious responsibilities. |
| ✔ |
Persisting with substance use despite harmful consequences. |
People who use khat have reported financial issues, psychological problems and poor quality of life. |
| Note: The presence of three or more criteria indicates addiction. The criteria are adapted from the ICD-10 criteria for dependence. |
A World Health Organization report concluded that chewing khat can cause moderate and persistent psychological dependence. Several studies have also found negative social and economic consequences stemming from khat use. But people usually have few problems quitting khat, according to the report.
In a 2015 letter to the editor published in the journal Addiction, a pair of professors wrote that khat use was a “neglected addictive behavior” and deserved greater attention.
Researchers in an unrelated 2016 study published in Addiction, concluded that more than half of the 400 khat users in the sample met the American Psychiatric Association’s criteria for a substance use disorder. Substance use disorder is the current medical term for problematic drug use, which ranges from mild to severe. Addiction is considered a severe substance use disorder.
Quitting Khat
Unlike quitting many other types of drugs, quitting khat rarely requires formal treatment. Peer pressure and cultural influences are among the biggest obstacles to sobriety. But support from family and friends can help people maintain abstinence.
Support groups and therapy may also be helpful for individuals who have struggled to quit using the drug. Self-help resources, such as the Sobriety E-book, can also assist individuals trying to maintain sobriety.
In a study of 47 men in Saudi Arabia who stopped using khat, the most common reasons for quitting included:
- Feeling guilty about skipping prayers
- Neglecting family and children
- Financial difficulties
- Work problems
- Health issues
- Marital problems related to erectile dysfunction
One man quoted by the researchers said, “What would you expect of a man with no money and unable to make love with his wife? That is what khat was doing to me.” The study was published in 2013 in the journal Substance Abuse.
None of the men required treatment, and they experienced several benefits after quitting. They told researchers they felt closer to their families. Their overall health and sexual health improved. Their financial problems dissipated and they experienced other improvements in their quality of life.
Khat probably isn’t as addictive as cocaine or other stimulants. But people who use the drug regularly can experience serious health problems and social problems. Quitting the drug can result in a happier life.
