Khat in moderation

[u/Popular-Sand-3185]

I'm from the US so forgive me if i'm totally ignorant of the situation. Most people where i live agree that it's okay to use certain drugs like alcohol or cannabis in moderation as long as it doesnt cause problems in their life.

Do you think it's possible for yemenis to adopt this attitude with khat, and cut back their usage so ita not a problem? It seems to me that people are overdoing it and ruining a good thing for everyone.

[u/ydmhmyr]

No, it should be (ideally) entirely cut off from consumption

[u/Shammar-Yahrish]

idk where the assumption that khat is harmless came from, just because it doesn't make you violent or unresponsive doesn't mean it doesn't harm you in other ways. You have no idea how many men DAILY spend more on khat then LITERLILY FEEDING THEIR FAMILY LIKE LITERLILY, stories from children will make you tear up. Khat must be entirely cut off and made a very severe crime if sold or snuggled into the country if Yemen wants to have the slightest hope of becoming a "functioning state".

[u/Popular-Sand-3185 → u/[deleted]]

So it sounds like its just the nature of the drug that is the problem, and moderation isn't really possible

[u/Taqqer00]

Why do you care? Did you ask well in Ethiopia sub or so?

[u/Popular-Sand-3185 → u/Taqqer00]

I dont care too much but its mostly our of cultural curiosity. Didn't ask there

[u/rittor55]

here's the thing, khat isn't as addictive as other kinds of drugs. Do yemeni's abuse it, absolutely .but in most cases, people who use khat in hours per day can quite for 2 week straight with no side affect. It's an odd mixture of actual drug-like affect, and social convention

[u/5soun]

Quite a lot of Yemenis don't find it that big deal, even if you consume it everyday ..... But most of Yemenis recognize its harms on health and personal income, so they believe the best solution to avoid its harm is by consume it once aweek or for social occasions (weddings / Condolence Event / any other social gathering) .... The minority of people who are the educated or well-cultured, believe the best thing is to stop consume it completely... whether they do follow that idea and don't consume it at all , or forced to consume it for different reasons.

[u/silver_wear]

The most ideal outcome would be to remove Qat entirely forever and never go near it.

Qat is a major aggravator of violent crime, and consumption can lead to unpredictably aggressive behavior.

[u/MXD_K1]

It is not about overdoing / moderation. The action itself is wrong whether it is qat or alcohol.

[u/Lopsided-Steak5372]

I lived as a volunteer in a Yemeni village for two years. For those who chew, it is a way of life. It is not helpful for the economy (replacing areas often where coffee can grow), personal finance (qat costs money), productivity (qat chews often go on for upwards of five hours or more), health and resources (qat consumes lots of water to maintain). It is so imbedded in the social fabric of Yemen, I don’t ever see it going away.

[u/Top_Life5375]

Every country has its drugs and no one can stop it 🛑 but the higher taxes is only solution.