Abstract
Khat chewing/use, a green leaf with amphetamine-like effects is socially integrated in the Middle East and Africa. Khat chewing is often associated with tobacco smoking and occurs in closed places, such as a family home setting where the smoke-free laws cannot be implemented. Tobacco cigarette smoking among khat chewers is a significant concern, but there is also second-hand exposure to smoke at home or in places where khat users gather. Evidence suggests that e-cigarettes represent a significantly less harmful form of nicotine intake. Evaluating the effects of e-cigarettes among khat chewers could be important in understanding the impact of e-cigarettes as a harm reduction approach, with the potential to reduce the health risk associated with smoking.
Highlights
The chewing/use of the amphetamine–like khat leaf from Catha edulis is widespread and socially ingrained in the Middle East and East Africa and their diaspora communities world-wide
There is a significant prevalence of tobacco smoking among adult and school children khat chewers [4] with gender difference in mode of tobacco use: women often smoke waterpipe tobacco whereas men often smoke tobacco cigarettes [5]
The estimated of tobacco use among khat users versus smoker none khat users was found higher [4] the difference in smoking dependence between khat users and non-users has not been established
Summary
The chewing/use of the amphetamine–like khat leaf from Catha edulis is widespread and socially ingrained in the Middle East and East Africa and their diaspora communities world-wide. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 240 attempted to quit khat and tobacco use [5], there is no evidence on the effects of using approved smoking cessation methods in this population. E-cigarettes could be used as a harm-reduction approach, with the main goal of reducing the adverse health effects of smoking in the population of khat users. E-cigarettes could be used as an alternative to smoking for this population, due to their ability to deliver nicotine (which is needed to enhance khat effects) as well as substitute the sensory-motor aspects of the smoking behavior Their use could potentially reduce second and third-hand exposure to the tobacco cigarette smoke observed in rooms where khat-chewing sessions are performed
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