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Editorial: Keep khat away from crime Gary Hayes, Editor There is an international feel to this edition. In communities – though it is khat that is the anticipation of the Government’s review, we visible catalyst for many of their problems. explore one of Britain’s most controversial These communities enter or live in the UK drugs – khat. lacking basic provisions and skills such as Khat is not a new issue. Not to the African literacy, are unable to speak English and don’t people who live where it is grown and have money or good housing. Many are still chewed, nor to the UK, which has been home traumatised by the experiences that they or to Somali immigrants for over a century. their families faced in their war-torn Up until only a few years ago khat escaped homeland. the attention of British society.A bitter leaf that The real problems are language, job is chewed for a pleasant stimulating effect, it is prospects, family pressures, boredom, now under the eye of the Advisory Council on exclusion and, uncomfortably, racism and the Misuse of Drugs.The review, instigated by cultural blindness.As Jeff Fernandez pointed the Home Office (not the department of out in the last edition of Drugs and Alcohol Health) is looking at the social and physical Today, services are failing to keep up with the problems associated with khat – and will, in changing faces of a multi-cultural Britain and their wisdom, recommend whether it should are not responding to the needs of their local be made illegal. communities. Calls for its ban come from many quarters. As our columnist and co-editor for this issue The loudest voice comes from those directly Dr Axel Klein also points out, to ban khat will affected by its over-use – the wives of male only make the exclusion of these people and users.The calls for criminalising it are their culture even deeper. If we are to control, tempting – make it illegal and people will stop we need to look at how it is sold, how it is using and abusing it.Two problems arise from consumed and provide guidelines for cafes this, firstly banning it will not stop use, it will and retailers to ensure that users are safe and simply make it another illegal drug that brought nearer to services and the people that criminalises users. Secondly, stopping khat use can help them, not put them in jail. will not solve the problems facing khat Continuing our look at the criminal justice communities like the Somalis, Ethiopians and balance Neil Hunt asks where is the evidence Yemenis such as poverty, boredom and that treatment in criminal justice treatment extreme social exclusion. actually works? On the other side ex-police The fact that this is a Home Office review is chief Peter French extolls the wonders of US- a sign of the times and points to the increasing style drug courts and argues for their reliance on the criminal justice system (CJS) to introduction in the UK to help improve court solve our social problems.The dangers of a CJS order compliance in treatment. approach in such a way are far-reaching. We also go behind the scenes to investigate Criminalising an activity can be an irreversible, the control of opium production in hugely insensitive and, needless to say, Afghanistan – the world’s biggest opiate expensive course of action. Once this producer and now under British guidance to direction is chosen it will release a barrage of control it. Justine Walker reports from opium powerful anti-drug and anti-user rhetoric, producing parts of the country and uncovers a engage uncompromising state-run systems and world where opium and corruption threaten will create an overpowering purpose aimed at development and peace. removing the rights of the individual while Also in this edition Martin Weegmann using their suffering to warrant an increasing presents the use of mind maps in treating use of force. addiction.We use maps to get our cars and us Calls for criminalising, while raising to our destination.Why not use them to allow important issues, miss the wider picture.To people to view their lives in a new and focus on the drug misses, some say powerful way and steer them out of addiction? conveniently, the real issues for these new gary@drugsandalcoholtoday.com 2 Drugs and Alcohol Today • Volume 5 Issue 3 • November 2005 © Pavilion
Drugs and Alcohol Today – Emerald Publishing
Published: Nov 1, 2005
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