RCMP designs program to inform khat users

Police in the Ottawa area want to launch a program aimed at reducing the consumption of a drug called khat (Catha Edulis) - a stimulant that is chewed mostly by men and can sometimes make them violent.

The drug is used by some people in the Somali community, among others, and can cost up to $70 per use.

According to the RCMP report, Drug Situation in Canada - 2003, khat is legal in many countries, including Somalia.

However the drug is illegal in Canada but is imported into the country, mostly through Canadian airports, and makes its way to the Somali community.

The drug must be consumed within 48 hours of being picked. So it's moved quickly, which complicates police investigations.

The RCMP program will show users the potential the drug has to destroy families.

Dekha, a counsellor with the Catholic Immigration Centre in Ottawa who is originally from Somalia, hears from other Somali women about the damages caused by khat.

Dekha said that families experience financial problems, and some users run out of money for food to support their addiction.

Another potential hazard of the drug is that khat causes impairment, as well as euphoria, for users, and therefore could be dangerous when driving or operating machinery, said RCMP Sgt. Pierre Mudie.

The RCMP will start the information sessions soon in the Ottawa Somali community. They hope to sensitize members to the risks of addiction as well as the potential legal penalties, which include three-year prison terms for importing it.