Chewing Qat is one of the national past times for many countries from the Horn of Africa through to the Arabian Peninsular.

With all the news on “harder” drugs such as heroin and ecstacy in the west, we don’t really get to hear a lot about this mild stimulant whose use predates coffee.

The exact makeup of the drug wasn’t even established by scientists until the late 70s, but is now known to include chemicals belonging to the PPA (phenylpropanolamine) family which induce a mild euphoria among users. It has even resulted in psychosis with some users. Prolonged use can result in withdrawal symptoms when the user tries to stop, such as depression, nightmares, tremors and lethargy.

Although use of the drug is illegal in many countries including the US, its popularity in places such as Somalia, Yemen and Sudan is at incredibly high levels. It is also legal in other western countries such as the UK. Usage in Yemen and Somalia runs at close to 60% of the male population. In Muslim countries there is debate over the Quran’s stance on Qat use with Saudi Arabia banning the drug largely due to the influence of the clergy, but Yemen allowing its use.

Qat seems to be one of those drugs on the periphery of main stream acceptance in many places. Immigrant populations from Qat consuming nations in western countries tend to introduce the habit for which official rejection by their host countries is often hotly debated. Cultural arguments are brought into play and the debate goes on.

Qat will probably stay on the periphery of mainstream acceptance for the forseeably future in most western countries, but the increasing rates of immigration may mean we get to see a lot more of the Qat Chewer in the future.