Khat is a significant problem in Somaliland that affects both chewers and non-chewers. It has negative impacts on health, families, the environment, and the economy. Khat chewing is very common, with over 300,000 people chewing daily and $250,000 being spent on it each day. Khat contains chemicals that are addictive and cause health issues like hypertension, heart disease, insomnia, and mental health problems. It also damages families by taking up household income and causing conflicts. Environmentally, khat waste pollutes areas and its farming uses pesticides. The author recommends establishing policies to control khat use, providing alternative businesses and jobs, educating youth, and conducting awareness campaigns.

1. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
The Khaat as a problem in Somaliland
Abstract
Is khaat a problem?
Actually in Somaliland country Khaat becomes one of commonest problem that affect both
chewers ,non-chewers and whole the society, because more than eight decade or quarter to
century Somali’s have been chewing a Khaat .Thus, Somali’s people are not those who absolutely
aware it is one of the most critical problem .Although, we can clarify it’s problem by based on
scientific knowledge and making touchable ways. Generally, Khaat cracks and damages person’s
health,family,environment,education,work ,worship , reliability , respect ,dignity and
economically status .So that, we are required to establish policies, techniques, and strategies.
Specifically we will deeply explain all these above mentioned issues with their causes and
preventing in the below sheets .After when we collected and searched more knowledge about
controlling of this problem we understood with each other all of these flowing are important keys
which needs to analyze .
Brief history and Khaat sources and originally where it emanated from

2. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Khaat was historically come from neighbor countries such us Ethiopia .Therefore, as we collected
more information about Khaat ,from reliable sources :-
While ago Somali’s people started Khaat chewing when some Somali’s religios scholars had gone
to Ethiopia country as they gain from knowledge about Islamic religion, because Ethiopian’s were
more sophisticated than our society and each person who wanted to increase his/her knowledge
had to gone there as they become religious leaders .Unfortunately, when they were rejected asleep
they used to chewed Khaat and they were not sleep when they chewed Khaat,because it contains
chemicals which doesn’t allow the person to get sleep as soon as possible and they were seen it as
utility for Quranic reading .Then, They had transferred to drivers who were driving the
transportation trucks(Truckers ) those were linking and transecting Berbera to other regions of
Ethiopia.
Similarly, truckers used to be active and escape from asleep, where they did not understand the
reason beyond the chewing Khaat. Also, they were not had sufficiency knowledge about Khaat
they were assuming it is good for them only, but they did not think any risk which will come
from the Khaat.
Methodologies
We used both primary and secondary data through and with questioner and blank forms
also we did observations by observing some reasons including environmental impact of
Khaat, Also, we have met many times with all members of the group as we share that
activities of each person and what that person have done currently . Although, we discussed
and discharged some unnecessary information’s.
Discusion/ Findings
Most of the Khaat chewers are the age between 20-50 years ,so it has negative affect into our
country development progress and selves reliance ,whereas, there are young adulthood who
recently started to chew Khaat.

3. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Futhermore, there are many business places those are called “Marfish” and “Maqaaxi” which are
regularly sells Khaat and some times they rent chewing places in few hours and chewers pay extra
pay as they have place that they can talk to each other .Also ,that places, they get euphoria and
feel free since they are using social media or watching TVs with familiar friends and sometimes
they may discuss with other customers with null-and-avoid dialogues which is based on
unconscious mind .When the chewers start their chewing they may have difference view that can
cause they controversy each other and too much quarreling .Moreover ,When the chewer has been
chewing over 7 years he would become “Qaad Qamax” which means no worrying about nothing.
Even Qaad Qamax cannot feel Khaat problems , because year after year person would become
addicted .So that ,he cannot do nothing without Khaat .Also ,Qaad Qamax uses special chewing
time which Qaad Qamax only chew Khaat and It is called “Jabane” Early chewing in the morning.
The Qaad Qamax doesn’t have ability to go for work. Therefore ,he begs to his friends and
relatives as he get some money to buy Khaat.
Similar to that ,there are three habits which chewers do each single day and they are :-
1. Strong willingness of Khaat : Every chewer has this habit even if s/he either in jobless or
not ,This habit is unconscious drive or uncontrollable mind because s/he doesn’t aware
his emotion and that is caused for searching khaat.Also,person becomes forgetful and
forgets s/he responsibilities and family issues .
2. Euphoria :Euphoria comes when the person eats excessive Khaat because he may feel
and see what the others can’t .It is kind of illusion .
3. Nightmares and tiredness with loss energetic: the drugs are decreased
(exclusion of drug ) when s/he went into bed.

4. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Health problems of Khaat
As many scientist who examined Khaat reported that Khaat is included two chemical substances
which are Katenon and Katin and they are produced from amphetamines illegal drugs(alcohol )
.Also, those are which gives the person illusion and false steams .
The major disease that Khaat creates include for flowing diseases
1. Hypertension
2. Heart disease
3. Insomnia
4. Headache
5. Lack nourished
6. Gastritis
7. Mental disorder
8. Dysfunction genital organs
9. Diseases attack Gum/Esophagus and mouth
10. His teeth can easily fallen or cracked
11. More fighting and sadness
12. Urine with sperms
13. Backbone pain
14. Depression
15. Weight loss
16. Hemorrhoids
17. If women chews Khaat their breast feeding period the baby doesn’t get sufficient milk.
An other nagetive impact of Khaat includes, The person who chews Khaat can sit over
hours a particular place and that’s can cause health disturbances that occurs joints of his
organs and even digestive system .

5. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Also, chewing together with partners can cause to transfer diseases including Air bone
diseases such as “Tuberculosis” and even STI diseases .
Environmental impact of Khaat
Khaat has many disadvantage into Somaliland country environment including:-
Khaat is poisoned by farmers with diverse poisons as they keep from the insect.
Thus,It is risk for all living things.
When the infected Khaat discharge into the soil it will be dryness and it will not
produce new plans and grass.
Khaat is against beautiful of the environment, because when you observe entire of
the city everywhere you may see Khaat garbage, rubbish and trashes on the roads,
yards and markers.
You may see many bottles were crashed after used into the sides of the road.Also
, Khaat has stalk of leaves which is crushed into anywhere.

6. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Impact of Khaat into couples and families according to Somaliland context
Khat has negative impact into the Somali’s society particularly when we regard it’s impact
of the family and couple including it damages and cracks, family’s health, economic
,development and it makes domestic violence or intimate partner violence .Therefore, it
brings many economic problems since the husband chew Khaat and needs euphoria or
feeling comfortable around him , So that ,when the family doesn’t have enough wealth it
is problem because when the husband income is 20 dollar per day and to buy chewing
details 15 dollar what is balance ?
There are only five dollar and it is not sufficient whole family .Yet, the family
requirement are more than 20 dollar per day how about spending easy for that money ?
They require following things :-
Electric bill
Children schooling
Clean water
Food
Renovation of house and decoration
Clothes
Tex fire
Shopping
Airtime and Internet recharge
It is loss of conscious of the chewer even if he doesn’t chew Khaat that family would be
rich and self-reliance family because their income are normal ,but the husband
expenditures for chewing Khaat are too much.

7. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Economic problems of the Khaat
The impact of Khaat in Somaliland for the aspect of financials are flowing :
Ethiopia is a country which is far from Hargeisa less than 90 KMs and It is a source of Khaat
comes from and they produce Khaat .On the other hand Somaliland country population is
estimated around 4.5 million person. Also, as we have gotten critical data, More than 300,000
person of Somaliland’s people are chew Khaat and most of them are men .
As we have gotten through data collection we recognized that that each day Chewers expenses
for Khaat in 250 ,000 USD , according to Sa’ad’s data.
Conclusion / recommendation
We are here clarifying our views those are solutions of Khaat problems and its impact, as we
exclude it everlasting problems of our country. Generally ,we all understood each other that Khaat
is one of the biggest challenges that against Somaliland development
.Forexample,Khaat created restless reasons about societal ineffective and dysfunction of the
community members both sides as we have mentioned above paragraphs .
Finally, when we discussed and analyzed Khaat problems we have gotten out it is critical
problem which needs emergency responses .Thus ,we are here conducting the solutions that we
agreed that we can mitigate using of Khaat according to Somaliland context.
I. Anyhow, it is necessary to have governmental branch that deals with actions against
Khaat and establish policies of Khaat abuse which needs working with experts of social
development, policy makers, uniformed personal and health professionals.

8. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
II. We need to give another chance those who sell Khaat and Marfash owners by creating
another business opportunities that is not controverting our country development.
I. Chapter about Khaat negative impacts to be included in Somaliland school’s curriculum,
because the young generations will utilize these chapters when they attend schools they
may know and aware that Khaat is not good in many aspects .
II. It is important to create income generating to jobless people, because when they get a job
they may have positive thinking and life strategies.
III. To increase taxes of Marfax, Maqaaxi, and Khaat’s Kabadh by doubling what they
current pay.
IV. To prohibit Khaat from Ethiopia through trucks as irregularly by giving fixed time.
V. Khaat becomes controllable and with small rubbish.
VI. To allow only single time per day that Khaat can arrive the capital city or landing
VII. Khaat airlines, especially afternoon.
VIII. Awareness raising and campaigns against Khaat.
IX. Focus group discussion .
Thanks you

9. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker
Reference
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2015/472302/
Golis university’s social workers focus group discussion.
http://www.tukesomalism.com/archives/293
http://caafimaadka.com/2016/10/08/16/
http://somalidoc.com/smf/index.php?topic=1085.0
FGD
Eng.Faysal Cali Hussein waraabe ( campaign debate 2017)

10. © Khalid Curaagte
Gollis University
Social Worker