A menace to society...!

[Sweet_Ladyee]

The Somali society has many self-inflicted ills (corruption, qabiilisim, etc.) and some natural ones. However, qaat is one of the most dangerous ills that the Soomaali society faces today.

Qaat is eating at the fabric of society at every level. It's an economic drain as well a social ill that has a devastating effect on the nucleus of the society – the family. What once was considered leisure has now become a necessity, like food. Its use is spreading faster than AIDS because it is accepted by society as harmless, and even those who understand its harm don't strive to educate the public of its ills. Both the AIDS disease and qaat need to get the attention of community leaders, intellectuals, and the society at large. Not to do so is to compound our self-inflicted wounds that are already exacerbated by other factors such as the civil war!!!!!!!

[TZ Somali]

I guess you have just state the obvious and what all Somalis know!

[Lil_Cutie..]

Whatever happened to banning it in the UK??Why didn't it go ahead?

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Tell the Somalis they can't chew Khat. You might as well tell them they can't breathe. Never going to happen.

[Somaliman%]

khat is a menace to society. but its the job of the parents to teach their children about it. alot of people chew khat nowadays but not everyday, its now a weekend thing. which is better than those who do it on a daily basis, instead of working or studying.

but we can work on our communities to make a khat awareness plan.
and to teach kids about the dangers of khat.
there should be groups or institutions that deal with this.

[Sweet_Ladyee]

Hey Cutie, i'm not quiet sure as to why it hasn't been made illegal. I have to do more research on that. The reason why i'm so interested in this issue is for the reason that my currently writing up a report about the Psychosocial effects of qaat on individuals. I think we should ALL remember that qaat often downgrades Soomaali people where ever they are, The United nations experts estimated that at least $20 million dollars goes to ethopia and kenya per year - just for qaat!, imagine how easily that money can turn around that country if used as needed to improve people's lives.

Worst than that in UK alone it has destroyed and continues to destroy so many young minds - who have got Psychological problems because of lack of moderation of qaat abuse, so qaat isn't only diminshing the proper prospect of clean living but it brings untold sideeffects.

It will cost us a civil war to stop in Uk, cos so many people can't live without it, but we need a damn campaign alteast to try to stop it. The other thing which destroyed somali's(UK) reptution is they became first class scoungers, claiming social money just for sake of it,they sholuld realise it's there for everyone who needs it especially for old, sick and needy - it's a safety net for the unemployed.people becoming greedy to apply and manipulate it, and that is why you find a 25 yrs of age young man who can work day and nite but still claiming - bad suckers, such things discourage so many people to work of the community.

[Lil_Cutie..]

[quote="Somaliman%"]khat is a menace to society. but its the job of the parents to teach their children about it. alot of people chew khat nowadays but not everyday, its now a weekend thing. which is better than those who do it on a daily basis, instead of working or studying.

but we can work on our communities to make a khat awareness plan.
and to teach kids about the dangers of khat.
there should be groups or institutions that deal with this.[/quote]



Alot of young children are chewing it aswell, Im pretty sure in London areas like--Southall and Hayes or whatever it has become a Fashion.

Lakin, So you saying--it should be recognised as a Drug??

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Of course the key is an information campaign, like a smoking cessation campaign. Telling them they can't chew in Somalia won't fly. But slowly educating them, getting to the younger generations, that might.

[Lil_Cutie..]

Good Luck SweetLadyee. I think the area is very topical, a good friend of mine did her 3year desitation on Qaad at university. She got a good grade..

[Somaliman%]

lil cutie. yes it should be recognised as a drug, and we should make the governments of the west aware about the dangers of khat.
we need to work harder to get it banned. maybe the british government doesnt realise the damage its making.

and we should start in our communties to teach people about it. its not just for fun it ruins lives. khat also contributes to mental health problems in somali society.

[kambuli]

I agree. Kat is the source of our problem, it is worse than the tribalism itself...When the ICU banned it haven't you heard all the calaacal coming from the growers? There was one article about a Kenyan guy. As long as the kat is there we are doomed.Period.!

[Grant]

In 1966 qaat had only a limited availability in the North. I never saw it available for sale anywhere in the South.

[TZ Somali]

its quite clear that it wasn't made illegal because it wasn't the drug choice for most of the citizens of that country if in my view was cocaine no doubt the government will have made illegal years ago....is quite simple as that.

[Steeler [Crawler2]]

Grant
Khat has been on the scene in Somalia for a LONG TIME. Certainly before 1966, or even 1866. Modern transportation has just made it more commonly available.

[Grant]

Mac,

Stale qaat is bitter. You are right about the effect of modern transportation, but take my word for it. Qaat's position in the Somali culture then was MUCH smaller than it is today.

It was my understanding that the qaat available then came only from the Ethiopian highlands. No truck had arrived and no qaat was available in Hargeysa on either of the two days I was there.

Additionally, it is my understanding that new sources in Yemen and Kenya have been developed, the economic consequences of which are now the subject of pessimistic UN financial reports for most areas of the Horn.

That was just NOT the situation in 1966.