Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study
Objective: The identification of khat dependence and the association between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health problems have not been quantitatively described in Australia. The current study aimed to describe khat dependence, use patterns, and khatrelated health problems in Australia...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc Rutgers
2016
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18366 |
| _version_ | 1848749725263593472 |
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| author | Young, Jesse Butt, J. Hersi, A. Tohow, A. Mohamed, D. |
| author_facet | Young, Jesse Butt, J. Hersi, A. Tohow, A. Mohamed, D. |
| author_sort | Young, Jesse |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: The identification of khat dependence and the association between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health problems have not been quantitatively described in Australia. The current study aimed to describe khat dependence, use patterns, and khatrelated health problems in Australian migrant communities. Method: A 48-item questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 52 participants from African migrant communities who self-reported using khat in four Australian state capital cities between April 1 and June 1, 2012. Associations between Severity of Dependence Scale for khat use (SDS-khat) screening status, use patterns, and khat-related psychological and physical health problems were assessed using multivariate loglinked Poisson regression controlling for potential sociodemographic confounders. Results: Overall, 44.2% (n = 23) of the study participants screened positive on the SDS-khat, indicating probable khat dependence. Screening positive for khat dependence was associated with increased risk for khat use frequency in the last 30 days (adjusted prevalence risk ratio [APRR] = 2.26, 95% CI [1.23, 4.15], p =.009), experiencing three or more psychological health problems (APRR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.04, 3.36], p =.037), and experiencing two or more physical health problems (APRR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.13, 3.27], p =.016) after using khat. Conclusions: Screening positive on the SDS-khat is associated with increased recent khat use frequency and elevated physical and psychological health problems, providing preliminary evidence that probable khat use dependence may be associated with an increased risk of harm in Australia. Furthermore, these preliminary results support the potential utility of the SDS-khat to healthcare providers to identify those at risk for khatrelated harms. Further investigation into the relationship between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health outcomes is warranted. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:25:30Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-18366 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T07:25:30Z |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc Rutgers |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-183662017-09-13T13:43:52Z Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study Young, Jesse Butt, J. Hersi, A. Tohow, A. Mohamed, D. Objective: The identification of khat dependence and the association between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health problems have not been quantitatively described in Australia. The current study aimed to describe khat dependence, use patterns, and khatrelated health problems in Australian migrant communities. Method: A 48-item questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 52 participants from African migrant communities who self-reported using khat in four Australian state capital cities between April 1 and June 1, 2012. Associations between Severity of Dependence Scale for khat use (SDS-khat) screening status, use patterns, and khat-related psychological and physical health problems were assessed using multivariate loglinked Poisson regression controlling for potential sociodemographic confounders. Results: Overall, 44.2% (n = 23) of the study participants screened positive on the SDS-khat, indicating probable khat dependence. Screening positive for khat dependence was associated with increased risk for khat use frequency in the last 30 days (adjusted prevalence risk ratio [APRR] = 2.26, 95% CI [1.23, 4.15], p =.009), experiencing three or more psychological health problems (APRR = 1.87, 95% CI [1.04, 3.36], p =.037), and experiencing two or more physical health problems (APRR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.13, 3.27], p =.016) after using khat. Conclusions: Screening positive on the SDS-khat is associated with increased recent khat use frequency and elevated physical and psychological health problems, providing preliminary evidence that probable khat use dependence may be associated with an increased risk of harm in Australia. Furthermore, these preliminary results support the potential utility of the SDS-khat to healthcare providers to identify those at risk for khatrelated harms. Further investigation into the relationship between khat dependence, use patterns, and related health outcomes is warranted. 2016 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18366 10.15288/jsad.2016.77.343 Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc Rutgers restricted |
| spellingShingle | Young, Jesse Butt, J. Hersi, A. Tohow, A. Mohamed, D. Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title | Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title_full | Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title_fullStr | Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title_short | Khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in Australia: An exploratory study |
| title_sort | khat dependence, use patterns, and health consequences in australia: an exploratory study |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/18366 |