A brief survey of khat use among juvenile delinquents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Khat is an addictive drug used by huge numbers of people in Ethiopia and surrounding nations. It has amphetamine-like qualities, a range of adverse side-effects, and is considered a controlled substance by the World Health Organisation. Despite this, the drug is freely available in Ethiopia and is the fifth ranked export commodity in that country. Prevalence of khat use in the population has never been measured nationally. Provincial studies suggest aprevalence rate among males of between 50% and 75%, with some authors suggesting higher rates based on those of neighbouring countries. The present study surveyed the khat usage patterns among a sample of juvenile delinquents (n = 25) drawn from the national Remand Home in Addis Ababa. As the only such institution in the country, it provides a sample of respondents from all over Ethiopia. A relatively low prevalence of khat chewing was found (44%), suggesting that khat may not be as associated with crime as previously thought. Low levels of other socially unacceptable habits were also discovered. As expected, the sample yielded high levels of social deprivation, with low parental education and widespread family separation. The study highlights some of the complexities of khat use, and raises some specific questions. It should provide the basis for more elaborate longitudinal studies in the future.