This report on the extent and problems connected to use and abuse of khat in Norway was called for by The Directorate for Health and Social Affairs in spring 2006 and was taken on by Nova. Cand.polit. Tore Gundersen has carried out the research and written the report with Ada Engebrigtsen NOVA supervisor and project leader. The background for this call was a series of rather scandalous media coverages about khat abuse and the authorities´ alleged weakness in dealing with this problem, and several requests and applications for financial support from persons and institutions that wanted to engage in this problem.
The project was scheduled for three months and most of the data were collected during spring 2006 among Somalis and Norwegians working as civil servants, employed in private organisation, as volunteers and among Somalis interested in the subject.
About khat
Khat (catha edulis) is a plant that varies in size from a bush to a tree. By chewing the fresh green leaves small substances of kaotin and katin are released and give a mild amphetamine like intoxication. Khat is also categorized with ephedrine and caffeine. One bundle of khat costs 200 N.Kr. (about 20£) and 1 to 3,4 bundles is a usual amount pr. person for a khat session. Khat use is prohibited by law in Norway.
Use
In Norway khat is almost exclusively used by people with Somali backgrounds. Khat is chewed in social gatherings, mostly by adult men. Few women and a small number of young boys report chewing khat. In Oslo khat is mainly traded from a café/club in an apartment house in Grønland, in the centre of Oslo. This research seems to indicate that around 250 persons connected to this café, 500 persons from Oslo in general and about 1400 persons in Oslo and from towns around Oslo, buy khat here on a daily basis. In other parts of Norway deliverances are quite uncertain and it is thus difficult to assess the number of users. There seems to be two active khat milieus in Norway outside Oslo; in Bergen and Skien.
Inflicted harm
The harm inflicted by chewing khat is related to the amount that is used and to each users/abusers personal story. The informants for this report highlighted the harm inflicted to ones health, to ones economy and to ones social life. This is confirmed by research from England and the US. There is a general consensus among researchers that khat users can develop addiction.
Attitudes towards khat
Ideas and views of khat are strongly polarized among Somalis in Norway. Here one can find the most determined antagonists, but also the people that view khat as part of "the good life”, a natural way of confirming cultural fellowship and identity. Many these would like the ban to be lifted.
Rehabilitation
None of the established institutions that deal with alcohol- and drug-abuse have established any rehabilitation plans or projects for khat abusers. The Somali community advices against understanding khat in connection with drug abuse. In stead most informants emphasize that strengthening family relations, religious learning and finding employment would be the most important measures, in connection with a strictly observed prohibition. To establish sound alternatives to the "khat-milieu” such as offers for education, employment and leisure activities is probably the best way of reducing the harm inflicted by khat on the Somali community. This view is confirmed by several Norwegian individuals and institutions that are active in this field. Several organisations and institutions that have projects and initiatives aimed at Somalis in general, also have khat users and abusers among their clientele. It would be important to develop and exchange information and treatment that is sensitive to cultural aspects of khat use and the situation of Somalis inNorway.
Conclusion
The report concludes that it would be inappropriate to develop a special "care” for khat users/abusers. It would, however, be appropriate that relevant institutions, organisations and so forth includeconsiderations about the problem of khat abuse in their work, which is; to regard khat, khat users and the khat-milieu as aspects of their task.
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