Research may lead to ban on khat

Khat grows across Africa

Home Office experts are investigating whether khat, a mild narcotic, causes long-term health damage and should be banned.

Chewing khat leaves is popular among groups including the Somali community because it causes feelings of euphoria.

But high levels of heart problems and mental illness have been seen in users.

The Home Office said there were no immediate plans to make chewing khat illegal, but more information about the plant's effects was needed.

People should be educated about the dangers of chewing khat Professor Peter Houghton, King's College London

Its drugs and alcohol unit is carrying out a detailed study to assess the level of harm caused by smoking at.

It will report later this year to the government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs which will decide if there is sufficient evidence to control at under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

The committee last considered at 15 years ago and deemed it safe.

Chemical effect

Khat is an evergreen shrub which grows in mountainous areas across Africa.

It is exported from Ethiopia, Yemen and Kenya, mainly to the UK.

The main active ingredient of khat is cathinone, a chemical which is similar to amphetamine.

Researchers at King's College London have found khat also contains cathedulins, chemicals which make the brain release dopamine - which produces feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.

Professor Peter Houghton, who is leading the research, told BBC News Online: "Clinicians who work with patients who chew khat regularly picked up, certainly in this country, that quite a lot have psychological problems."

But he said more work needed to be carried out to see if chewing the plant actually caused mental illness.

"We don't seem to see as many problems with chewers in home countries.

"In this country, there are many other factors influencing Somalis.

"Many have been traumatised by the things that are happening in their own country.

"They may be feeling isolated - and they have to deal with the problems of being part of an immigrant population.

"It is not clear how much psychological illness is prompted by these sort of circumstances and how much by smoking khat."

Education

He added: "In Yemen, there seems to be quite a high incidence of strokes and heart attacks."

He said there had also been suggestions that at chewers may also experience bladder problems.

Professor Houghton added: "The effects on the heart and the bladder can be explained by what's known about the pharmacological properties of some of the chemicals present in khat."

The chemicals act a little like adrenaline, which can make the heart work harder than it actually needs to.

Professor Houghton said he would not be in favour of banning the plant.

"I think that would probably cause more problems by driving it onto the black market.

"Instead, people should be educated about the dangers of chewing khat."

A spokesman for the Home Office said: "There are no immediate plans to control khat or to ban it under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"The report from the drugs and alcohol unit will inform future decisions on the drug."