Khat/Qat Drug
Catha edulis or Khat (Qat) is a natural drug derived from the Celastrus edulis plant which is a shrub that can grow to the size of a tree and could reach a height of about 10 to 20 feet with leaves resembling those of basil leaves. Its content makes it a compound similar to that of Amphetamines that produce excitation, banish sleep and promote communication. According to streetdrugs.org (2003), when used in moderation, khat is used as away to alleviate fatigue and to reduce appetite. This is perhaps one of the reasons why Khat was able to reach the American society through the immigrants, who in their countries have used khat for medical purposes. However, as it turned out, the potential abuse of khat has led other people to use it in excess of the normal dosage. Khat, also known in 40 other street names including Chat, Ku-es-Salahin., Mirra, Tohai, Tschat, Catha, Quat, African Tea, and African salad is also used to chase away hunger and exhaustion (Khat,......
Join Now or Login to view the rest of this paper.
Approximate Word Count: 1931
Approximate Pages: 8 (260 words per double-spaced page) |