Khat Use: Lifestyle Or Addiction‪?‬

Despite its popularity in parts of the world and the potential impact of its consumption on individual and public health, khat use has until now received only marginal attention from the scientific community. For centuries, khat use was considered to be confined to some African and Mediterranean countries. With increased voluntary and involuntary migration and the increased facility to send khat all over the world, the epidemiology of khat use has changed. Also, since it is not always consumed in its original cultural context, clinical effects and potential consequences including addiction may have changed. The aim of the present article is to review current knowledge on pharmacological, epidemiological and clinical aspects of khat use. BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS