Stimulants
Khat (Catha edulis)
Street names: Qat, Chat, Jaad, Miraa
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Mild stimulant: alertness, euphoria, talkativeness
- Appetite suppression, insomnia
⚠Key risks
- Academic/work decline — daily chewing sessions consume hours
- Dependence with daily use
- Cardiovascular strain; rare heart attacks
- Constipation, gastric issues
- Social harm in producing countries — economic burden, water depletion
✚Overdose signs
- Racing heart, BP spikes
- Agitation, paranoia
- Insomnia stacking
📋Quick facts
Also known asQat, Chat, Jaad, Miraa
CategoryStimulants
Schedule / classSchedule I (US); legal some countries (UK until 2014, Yemen, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia)
AppearanceFresh green leaves chewed in sessions; must be fresh — dries out and loses potency
Street price$5–$20 per bundle where legal; $50+ smuggled fresh to diaspora markets
Legal statusSchedule I US (banned 1993); banned UK 2014; legal and culturally embedded in East Africa/Yemen
Last updated2026-09-17
Sources: EMCDDA, NIDA
Category comparison — Stimulants
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khat (Catha edulis) | Schedule I | Academic/work decline — daily chewing sessions consume hours; Dependence with daily use | $5–$20 per bundle where legal |
| Captagon (Fenethylline) | Schedule I/II globally; Middle East conflict drug | THE CONFLICT DRUG — linked to ISIS/Daesh and Middle East trafficking; Amphetamine addiction and psychosis | $5–$20 per pill regionally |
| Yaba (Thai Methamphetamine) | Schedule I/II | Methamphetamine harms: addiction, psychosis, cardiovascular damage; Southeast Asia epidemic — Thailand's 'crazy medicine' | $1–$5 per pill |
| Khat (Catha edulis) | Schedule I | Academic/work decline — daily chewing sessions consume hours; Dependence with daily use | $5–$20 per bundle where legal |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Khat (Catha edulis) look like?
Fresh green leaves chewed in sessions; must be fresh — dries out and loses potency
What are the signs of a Khat (Catha edulis) overdose?
Racing heart, BP spikes; Agitation, paranoia; Insomnia stacking Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Academic/work decline — daily chewing sessions consume hours Dependence can develop with regular use.