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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Somalis urge government to ban khat | Somalis urge government to ban khat |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| About 100 members of the Somali community have demonstrated outside Downing Street to call on the government to ban a herbal high. | About 100 members of the Somali community have demonstrated outside Downing Street to call on the government to ban a herbal high. |
| Khat, which is illegal in the US and many countries in Europe, has been chewed for centuries in east Africa and the Middle East. | |
| The campaigners said it caused medical problems and family breakdowns. | The campaigners said it caused medical problems and family breakdowns. |
| The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs is currently reviewing the harms associated with khat. | The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs is currently reviewing the harms associated with khat. |
| Effects of chewing the leaves of the khat plant include euphoria and extreme talkativeness, but side effects can include dizziness, heart problems and anxiety. | Effects of chewing the leaves of the khat plant include euphoria and extreme talkativeness, but side effects can include dizziness, heart problems and anxiety. |
| 'Mental health' | 'Mental health' |
| Fears have been raised that the stimulant is contributing to mental health problems within the communities that use it. | Fears have been raised that the stimulant is contributing to mental health problems within the communities that use it. |
| Richard Hamilton, Africa editor for the BBC World Service, attended the demonstration. | Richard Hamilton, Africa editor for the BBC World Service, attended the demonstration. |
| He said research suggested that more than a third of the over 100,000 Somalis in the UK have admitted to consuming khat on a regular basis. | He said research suggested that more than a third of the over 100,000 Somalis in the UK have admitted to consuming khat on a regular basis. |
| The demonstrators said that the drug caused mental illness, depression, cancer and death from liver failure. | The demonstrators said that the drug caused mental illness, depression, cancer and death from liver failure. |
| They added that the social impact of khat has kept men away from work and led to the disintegration of families and local communities. | They added that the social impact of khat has kept men away from work and led to the disintegration of families and local communities. |
| Abukar Awale, who organised the demonstration, is himself a former khat addict. | Abukar Awale, who organised the demonstration, is himself a former khat addict. |
| "The number of families who are breaking down due to khat is beyond your imagination," he said. | "The number of families who are breaking down due to khat is beyond your imagination," he said. |
| "There is clear evidence of medical and social harm. | "There is clear evidence of medical and social harm. |
| "I'd like to bring to your attention a report which came out in 2011, called 'khat related deaths' there are fourteen cases - all young men, all of them died of liver failure. | "I'd like to bring to your attention a report which came out in 2011, called 'khat related deaths' there are fourteen cases - all young men, all of them died of liver failure. |
| "They are not related. The one factor they all have in common is excessive khat use, which leads us to believe there is huge evidence of medical harm." | "They are not related. The one factor they all have in common is excessive khat use, which leads us to believe there is huge evidence of medical harm." |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is currently reviewing the harms associated with khat. | A Home Office spokesman said: "The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) is currently reviewing the harms associated with khat. |
| "The government is required to consult the ACMD and will not prejudge this advice. | "The government is required to consult the ACMD and will not prejudge this advice. |
| "The home secretary will consider the advice fully when it has been received, which is likely to be later this year." | "The home secretary will consider the advice fully when it has been received, which is likely to be later this year." |