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See other news storiesThe Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has made recommendations from its January 2006 khat report
17 August 2006
Khat Recommendations
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published their report on Khat in January 2006. The Home Office accepted the report and recommendations in full and is currently working on taking the report recommendations forward.
The issue of khat is one which the Home Office has been aware of for some time. The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) from whom the Government receives advice about drugs issues in the UK, has considered khat at their meetings a number of times over recent years.
On 1st March 2005 ACMD was asked to undertake a specific piece of work, assessing the extent of the harm posed by khat use in the UK, both to the individual, their communities and to society as a whole. They were also asked to consider whether khat ought to be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Khat (catha edulis) is a green-leafed shrub that has been chewed for centuries by people who live in the Horn of Africa and Arabian Peninsula. It has recently turned up in Europe, including the UK, particularly among immigrants and refugees from countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia and Yemen. Khat is imported to the UK and sold at greengrocers or marfreshi. It sells at about £4 a bunch but only remains potent for a few days after picked. It is strongest when the fresh leaves are chewed but can also be made into a tea or chewable paste.
Users of khat report increased levels of energy, alertness, sense of self-esteem, sense of elation, enhanced imaginative ability, and capacity to associate ideas when chewing. However over stimulation of the central nervous system can lead to psychiatric disorders and there are case reports of people developing psychosis after use of khat.
The then Home Secretary Charles Clark accepted the ACMD’s recommendations on Khat in full.
ACMD Khat Recommendation
Recommendation 1
The ACMD recommend that Khat is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
Recommendation 2
The Council felt that there was a need to educate primary health care professionals and others directly involved with members of these communities about the health and social problems and requirements of these populations, and specifically about the problems associated with Khat use.
The need for education was in the following areas
• The health risks associated with Khat use
• The dangers of Khat use
• Risk reduction and safer Khat use
• Treatment options for Khat use
• Prevention of Khat use
Recommendation 3
The Council overwhelmingly felt that Khat users, when seeking advice and help, should not automatically be encouraged to attend addiction services. Drug Action Teams should focus on ensuring that local communities and primary care services use the best approaches to treatment, prevention and education.
Recommendation 4
The Council recommends that the Government/local relevant authorities explore the possibility of a voluntary agreement amongst retailers of khat on excluding sale of khat to those under 18 years old.
Recommendation 5
Furthermore, the Council recommends an awareness raising campaign of the health and safety implications of chewing Khat in Marfreshi (e.g. – health implications from poorly ventilated, smoky environments), and a voluntary undertaking from community leaders and Mafreshi owners to adhere, wherever possible to current health and safety regulations on ventilation, lighting, fire escapes etc.
If you are finding that your DAT area is experiencing significant khat orientated issues, or that there are high numbers of khat chewing populations in the local area, we highly recommend that you read the ACMD Khat Report (2005) and seek to implement relevant report recommendations within your local DAT areas wherever possible.
The ACMD Khat report can be can be downloaded from from the Drugs website.
