The Rate of Khat Abuse - Research Paper Example

Khat Khat Khat is a drug obtained from a native African shrub referred to scientifically as Catha edulis. Use of khat has shown dependence upon prolonged use. This is actually addiction. In Africa, use of khat has shown increased trends. In East Africa, use of khat has increased more so in the informal settlements and suburbs (Nencini & Ahmed, 1989). Increase in the drug users poses a great public health problem to nations. There is a higher probability of committing crime by users and this is problem to the national security. Khat users are more likely to use other drugs as well. They are likely to smoke cigarette and drink alcohol as compared to the non-user c counterparts. Scope of the problem More youth are using khat, and they can be categorized demographically as between ages of 15 and not exceeding twenty five years of age. This group has male and female drug users. Demographic data in relation to the age, gender and level of education can be used to describe the use of khat in African countries. The table below summarizes the khat drug use: (Al‐Hebshi & Skaug, 2005). Age group: 15 to 20 years Level of education: primary and secondary school: college level: Gender: male 81.3% female: 80.6% male: 35.8% female: 37.7% Age group: 20 to 25 years Level of education: primary and secondary school: college level: Gender: male: 17.3% female: 18.8% male: 64.2% female: 62.3% According to Al‐Hebshi & Skaug, 2005, statistics show that in Africa, the female and male youth have insignificant differences in the percent drug users at the same educational level. School going youth below the age of twenty years are the majority consumers of khat as compared to those in college with over 20 years of age. Patterns, Signs and symptoms: It is shown that khat use is high among the urban poor and those in informal settlements, suburbs, the illiterate, and those in informal employment. Majority of the users tend to consume khat on daily basis, the least number are the monthly users. That is: Daily users: 87.7 % Once a week: 3.9% Once a month: 1.75% The usage patterns and trends therefore show that khat is highly addictive and use can lead to dependence. Many consume the drug on daily basis. Eighty seven point seven percent is significantly huge value. The effects, signs and symptoms vary. They can be categorized as short term and long term effects. Nencini, P., Ahmed, A. M., & Elmi, A. S, 1986) argue that short term effects include: irritability, a feeling of excitement, euphoria, physical exhaustion, difficulties in breathing, constipation, increased heart rate and blood pumping, hallucinations, feeling of hyperactivity, manic behavior, increased alertness and concentration as well as increased motor activity. Long term signs and symptoms due to khat use include: Anorexia, gastric disorders, depression and elevated stress levels, heart diseases and cancer, tachycardia, liver complications and damage, cardiac complications among others. Those that show anorexia may also display variable other dependent complication indicators. It often develops due to physiological, mental, and metabolic response mechanisms to the substance abuse. Warfa, Klein, Bhui, Leavey, Craig, & Stansfeld, 2007 in their journal state that the body becomes controlled by Khat and in trying to mitigate this dependence; health problems are encountered, not to mention anorexia. Food consumption and digestive mechanisms become hampered. The body mass index (BMI) fails to be maintained, therefore the person may fail to maintain normal body weight. Among women consumers, menstrual cycle becomes irregular, rapid weight loss and muscle wasting, lanugo, unexplained kidney failure; this subsequently results in swollen joints due to accumulation of wastes, withdrawal symptoms, and sometimes hair loss. Factors that influence the rate of substance abuse There are many factors that influence khat use. These can be categorized into groups. They include social factors, economic factors and demographic factors. Social factors include peer influence and peer pressure, family influence and the living environment. Some use and abuse the drug after being introduced to it by friends. This contributes to availability of the drug. They are influenced when they watch others us khat, then eventually they are lured into using the drug. Others are coaxed into the habit by psychological manipulation by their peers who convince them that khat use is “cool”. Role models who use the drug tend to subconsciously lure others into the habit of khat use. These people are idolized by those who look up on them as their role models. (Odenwald, et al, 2005). Broken down families for example, provide a loophole for increased substance abuse. This can be attributed to minimal or lack of close monitoring and parenthood. Such children will be more likely to abuse the drug. Interaction with khat uses in the neighborhood tends to show the vice as acceptable. Gender issues also come into play, where young males are seen to experiment more with things available at their disposal. However from the above statistics, consumption is almost the same among school going adolescents Economic factors include poverty, unemployment, low income and underemployment. Poverty exposes victims to substance abuse as they tend to view the habit as being helpful. They claim that chewing khat will help them forget their deplorable ling conditions. In informal settlements like slums, khat is used at a higher rate. This is an indicator that poor people are more likely to abuse khat. Unemployment on the other hand increases stress levels. This makes the unemployed person look for a way to divert his/her frustration. This alternative may be khat or any other available drug. Unemployment therefore acts as a trigger for substance abuse (Griffiths et al, 2010). According to Nencini, P., Ahmed, A. M., & Elmi, A. S. (1986), demographic factors include age, level of education, gender, religion and area of origin. More youth are consuming khat than adults with over 45 years of age. Illiteracy level is also key, primary and secondary school dropouts are more likely to use the drug. Religious believes play a key demographic role to the substance abuse. Christianity and Muslims are discouraged from using drugs and therefore, less likely to abuse the drug. Barriers to identification and treatment Many consumers of Khat use it anonymously. They consume the drug in privacy making it difficult to identify the users. Nevertheless, signs and symptoms may be used to identify potential users and addicts. This is a major step to effective prognosis and treatment (Odenwald, Warfa, Bhui & Elbert, 2010). It is logical to argue that preventive measures are key to treatment of khat addiction. Therapy is available at health centers and counseling is essential. Information on the drug is available in publications by Ageely, H.M. (2009), Behrman, J.R., & Wolfe, B.L. (2006); and e-books. References Al‐Hebshi, N., & Skaug, N. (2005). Khat (Catha edulis)—an updated review. Addiction biology, 10(4), 299-307. Griffiths, P., Lopez, D., Sedefov, R., Gallegos, A., Hughes, B., Noor, A., & Royuela, L. (2010). Khat use and monitoring drug use in Europe: the current situation and issues for the future. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 132(3), 578-583. Nencini, P., & Ahmed, A. M. (1989). Khat consumption: a pharmacological review. Drug and alcohol dependence, 23(1), 19-29. Nencini, P., Ahmed, A. M., & Elmi, A. S. (1986). Subjective effects of khat chewing in humans. Drug and alcohol dependence, 18(1), 97-105. Odenwald, M., Hinkel, H., Schauer, E., Schauer, M., Elbert, T., Neuner, F., & Rockstroh, B. (2009). Use of khat and posttraumatic stress disorder as risk factors for psychotic symptoms: a study of Somali combatants. Social Science & Medicine, 69(7), 1040-1048. Odenwald, M., Neuner, F., Schauer, M., Elbert, T., Catani, C., Lingenfelder, B., ... & Rockstroh, B. (2005). Khat use as risk factor for psychotic disorders: a cross-sectional and case- control study in Somalia. BMC medicine, 3(1), 5. Odenwald, M., Warfa, N., Bhui, K., & Elbert, T. (2010). The stimulant khat—Another door in the wall? A call for overcoming the barriers. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 132(3), 615- 619. Warfa, N., Klein, A., Bhui, K., Leavey, G., Craig, T., & Alfred Stansfeld, S. (2007). Khat use and mental illness: a critical review. Social science & medicine, 65(2), 309-318. Read More