NCJ Number
180284
Date Published
1998
Length
98 pages
Annotation
Data collected between November 1994 and January 1995 from a nonrandom sample of 207 Somalis living in London, England, formed the basis of a study of the use of the stimulant drug qat among this population.
Abstract
A team from the Somali community collected the data. The analysis focused on the physical effects of the drugs and the social issues. The research recognized that qat has traditionally been popular in countries that prohibit other intoxicants such as alcohol due to religious beliefs and that qat-chewing sessions are usually social affairs and often have an important part in the culture of the community. Qat use increased in popularity in Somalia from the 1960's onward. Qat's most important chemicals are similar to amphetamine. Seventy-three percent of the participants were male and 27 percent were female. The age range was from 18 to 78 years. Participants had lived in London an average of 4 years. Eighty-three percent were unemployed. Seventy-eight percent of the men and 76 percent of the women had used qat; 67 percent had done so in the week prior to the interview. They started using qat at an average age of 21 years. Only 6 percent currently used qat daily. This practice did not lead to serious problems for the majority. However, 85 percent reported feeling tired and depressed after qat-chewing sessions. Participants did not think that qat use should be prohibited. The majority also believed that Somalis would continue to use if it were banned, because illicit markets have developed in countries where it has been banned. Tables, figures, appended tables and instruments, and 60 references