By Steven Thompson »
Monday, June 08, 2009
A DANGEROUS new drug is spreading on the streets of Bolton, health chiefs have warned.
Khat is growing in popularity in the town, especially among immigrants from countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia and the Yemen.
The green-leafed shrub has been chewed for centuries by users in Africa, but the legal drug is now turning up in parts of the UK.
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Despite its legal status, Khat can cause depression and insomnia and regular users can become violent. And its effects can blight the lives of families, experts say.
A campaign to raise awareness of the drug in the town is being launched.
The chairman of Bolton Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee has warned the drug can have a destructive effect on the community.
Cllr Andy Morgan said: “People need to be warned of the dangers of this drug. Just because Khat is legal does not mean it is not harmful.
“It has serious health consequences — insomnia, high blood pressure, breathing difficulties and depression. Drugs wreck families and have a very destructive effect on the community as a whole.”
The warning comes at the start of the Home Office-led National Drugs Week and a campaign aimed at telling people about the dangers of Khat will be launched in Bolton later in the week.
Bolton Solidarity Community Association has joined the fight against the drug and will present “Khat Facts” on Friday at the TIC Centre, in Minerva Road, Farnworth.
Abdi Abdullahi of the BSCA said: “A lot of people just don’t know the damage to health that can be done if Khat is used too much.
“We have developed information which is specific to Bolton because there just wasn’t anything else out there which was suitable.”
The event will inform people about the drug — and tell them how to get help if they have become addicted.
Bolton South East MP Dr Brian Iddon has also thrown his weight behind the campaign and will speak at the campaign launch.
Sandie Saunders, Drug Commissioning Manager for Bolton, said: “Although it isn’t illegal, there is a downside to using Khat. We hope that people will read the leaflets which also have advice on where to get help if Khat is beginning to cause problems in your life.”
The drug is largely used socially in some ethnic groups and is broadly accepted. Because it is legal it is freely available from independent dealers and even cafe and restaurants — shipments from Africa are reported to arrive at Manchester and Liverpool airports every week.
But studies have shown a need for greater understanding about the negative effects of prolonged use.
•Events will be held throughout the borough this week as part of National Drugs Week. The sessions will be hosted by 360º, an organisation of specialists from Bolton Council, NHS Bolton and the Youth Justice Board, who will work with young people and families affected by drug and alcohol misuse.
Today, there is a session on steroid misuse at Bolton Lads and Girls Club and tomorrow will see Tonge Moor Children’s Centre host an event on the effects of substance misuse on families.
Young people will be the focus of Wednesday’s meeting at Castle Hill Youth Club and, on Thursday, a session on therapeutic work will take place at the allotment in Cable Street.
The National Drugs Week workshops will end on Friday when the dangers of alcohol and cocaine will be highlighted at the Bolton Council of Mosques in Vicarage Street, Bolton.
[email protected] FACT FILE The green-leafed shrub can be bought for around £3 a bunch in Bolton The Khat plant itself is not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, but the active ingredients, cathinone and cathine, are Class C drugs It was classified as a drug by the World Health Organisation in 1980 Khat is a stimulant drug with effects similar to amphetamine Chewing it makes people feel more alert and talkative and suppresses the appetite Regular use may lead to insomnia, anorexia and anxiety In some cases it may make people feel more irritable and angry and possibly violent Psychological dependence can result from regular use so that users feel depressed and low unless they keep taking it