Khat

Published on July 11, 2024 at 8:00 / Updated on July 25, 2024 at 8:00

Synonyms	The most common synonyms are: Catha edulis, Chafta, Chat, Ciat, Gat, Mbugula mabwe, Miraa (Kenya), Qat (Yemen), African salad, Abyssinian tea, Tchat.
Classification	Stimulant: Refers to a substance that stimulates mental function and increases the brain's overall activity and alertness.
Visual description	Its leaves are lanceolate and have delicately serrated edges. They are tough and measure 8 to 12 cm in length and 5 cm in width. They are reddish but gradually turn yellowish-green.
Mechanism of action	Khat, catha edulis, is a shrub. Its leaves contain two active substances: cathinone and cathine. Cathinone resembles amphetamine in chemical structure but is less potent, while cathine resembles ephedrine and has similar effects. That said, cathinone has amphetamine-like effects. When its leaves are kept fresh, the effects of khat can last up to 24 hours. The effects of cathinone decrease substantially after 48 hours, making cathine the only active substance. Cathinone becomes inactive when the leaves dry out.
Routes of administration	Mainly oral by chewing khat leaves. Can also be smoked or infused (infrequent).

Effects sought out by the user

Ease of communication
Euphoria
Exaltation

Increased attention and energy
Increased self-esteem

Common toxic effects

Accelerated breathing
Hypertension
Hyperthermia (increase in body temperature)
Increased sex drive
Insomnia

Loss of appetite
Moderate increase in blood pressure
Mydriasis (dilated pupils)
Nervousness
Tachycardia (increased heart rate)

Overdose effects

Cerebral hemorrhage
Constipation
Delirium
Myocardial infarction

Psychosis with hallucinations
Pulmonary edema
Stroke

Effects associated with chronic use

Brown stains on teeth
Constipation
Damage to the teeth
Gastrointestinal disorders (ulcers, tumours, etc.)

Irritation of oral mucosa
Risk of malnutrition
Risk of mouth cancer

Addiction

Regular use may lead to psychological dependence.

Withdrawal

Possible, but milder than with amphetamine. The effects reported during withdrawal are mild tremor, irritability, loss of appetite, listlessness, abnormal fatigue, insomnia, minor depression and nightmares.

Onset and duration of action
Route of administration	Onset of action	Peak	Duration of action
Oral	quick (as soon as the khat leaf is chewed)	N/A	3 hours (effects persist for 2 hours after the end of the chewing session)

Intoxication management

No antidote available.
Treatment is mainly symptomatic.

Many different street drugs are sold under the same name. Furthermore, nothing guarantees the quantity, purity or even the content of a street drug in spite of the fact that it may, in some cases, look like medication.

If you need help or want to learn more:

Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction

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