Khat , << kaht >> also spelled qat, is an evergreen shrub whose leaves and stalks are chewed for their pleasurable effects. Chewing khat can produce feelings of euphoria—that is, a sensation of well-being—and alertness. Khat grows in the Arabian Peninsula and in northeast Africa. Archaeologists have found references to khat use in texts from ancient Egypt. In Arabia and the horn of Africa, chewing khat remains a popular social tradition. People there use khat in much the same way that people of other cultures drink coffee or tea.
Khat leaves and stems contain several chemical compounds that affect the nervous system. The two primary ones are called cathinone and cathine. These substances are chemically similar to drugs called amphetamines (see Amphetamine ). In addition to producing euphoria, cathinone and cathine increase heart rate and raise blood pressure. Once the euphoria has worn off, a person may experience a depressed mood, irritability, a loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping. Medical experts think that khat can be addictive. They warn that chronic (ongoing) use of khat can lead to psychological and social problems.
Khat is an important cash crop in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Yemen. In the United States, however, cathinone is considered a drug of abuse and is regulated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The United States and several countries in Europe have banned the cultivation or possession of khat. But khat is legal in the United Kingdom, where it is popular among immigrant communities from Africa and the Middle East.
