Brussels, 04/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) published a warning on Monday 4 July about the use of khat in Europe, where numbers using this drug “appear to be growing”. The EMCDDA is worried that khat, which can cause mental health problems, and the spread of its use are not fully understood. Khat is a drug from the Catha edulis bush, cultivated in the Horn of Africa, Southern Arabia and along the East African coast, the EMCDDA explains. It is consumed essentially by immigrant communities. Chewing its leaves releases stimulant substances that have amphetamine-like properties, the EMCDDA says, pointing out that the leaves, however, are not subject to any controls and that “no consistent approach exists to khat” in the EU. It is treated as an illegal drug in 15 of the 27 member states.
“European khat markets appear to be growing, but data sources remain weak. More research is needed, not only to assess this market, but also to monitor evolving patterns of khat use and the extent of any socio-economic and health consequences”, suggested EMCDDA Director Wolfgang Götz. The two main entry points for khat into Europe are the UK and the Netherlands, where it is imported, traded and consumed legally as a vegetable product. (S.P./transl.rt)