title: Khat Dependence, Use Patterns, and Health Consequences in Australia: An Exploratory Study.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6008, Australia.|Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.|Centre for Health Services Research, School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Jesse T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6008, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Butt
authors.affiliation: Griffith Centre for Cultural Research, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, 4111, Australia.
authors.forename: Abdi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hersi
authors.affiliation: Global Somali Diaspora Advisory Team, Melbourne, Victoria, 3082, Australia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tohow
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: Daud Harun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000208:ethnology; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D029754:Catha; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult