The use of khat. An epidemiological study in two Yemenite villages in Israel.

Chewing of khat leaves has been noted to be widespread in Yemen. Immigrants to Israel brought that practice along and have kept it alive ever since their initial settlement over thirty years ago. The small epidemiological study reported here made an inquiry into the extent of khat use in two agricultural villages. It also explored the association of that practice with social and psychiatric variables. Of interest was the finding that--contrary to most addictions--the prevalence rate of psychopathology was not higher among users than among abstainers.