Khat Use in Defined Population

Abstract

Globally, 20 million people chew khat on a daily basis. It is commonly used in East Africa and Arabian Peninsula countries, and nearly ten million people consume khat. Evidence reveals that 59.9% of prisoners have history of khat use. Substance use, particularly amphetamine, is strongly related with violent crimes. Recent qualitative studies have shown that khat use has an association with domestic violence. This chapter provides current literatures khat use with emphasis on providing basic information on the characteristics of khat, magnitude, association with crime, and interventions for khat use inside the prison. First we will deliver crucial information on the burden of khat and how it relates with crime. We also present an overview briefly on addressing khat use inside the prison and conclude by integrative summary and call for further research. In khat belt countries, khat abuse is treated as usually by nonspecific standard psychiatric care treatment. In light of this, prison administrative system provides unique opportunity to intervention for khat users while in prison and after release from prison in order to disrupt vicious circle of khat use and crime. Only, qualitative studies describe the association of khat use with domestic violence, and yet no studies explore causal link between khat and crime. Whether khat use is thought as facilitator of social communication or as cause for domestic violence, longitudinal research on investigation of the effect of khat use on crime are needed to clarify its causal link.