Scientist discover strange experiences and hallucinations from Miraa users

Image result for Miraa usersIn the initial presentation made at a scientific conference in Nairobi in 2017, lead investigator Prof Charles Mbakaya linked miraa to reduced appetite, low obesity and increased libido.

New research on miraa shows that it contains a chemical (cathinone) which affects the central nervous system.

And besides that, Scientists at Kenya Medical Research Institute (Kemri) now say miraa is bad for mental health.

The researchers said they found miraa to be a possible cause of mental health problems.Related image
“Psychotic symptoms were significantly elevated in khat users in the study population,” said the report published last Tuesday in the journal BMC Psychiatry.

Cathinone stimulates excessive production of dopamine chemical than is needed in the brain. Researchers say that high accumulation of dopamine in the nervous system causes hallucinations, bizarre thoughts, schizophrenia, high blood pressure, increase in respiration, lethargy, mild depression, nightmares and alertness.

In both instances, the scientists were citing data collected from 831 residents of Meru and Embu counties in 2015 in a study funded by the Government at Sh38 million.
Of the 831 study participants, 306 or about 37 per cent were found to chew miraa, with more than half being men.
About 14 per cent of children aged 10-17 were also found to chew miraa.

This is described as worrisome because early initiation of substance use is linked to increased risk of drug-related diseases.Image result for Miraa users

A research conducted by the United Nations Narcotic Laboratory in 1975, indicates that miraa grown in Kenya contains the highest concentration of cathinone-14 per cent , compared to miraa from Yemen, Madagascar and Middle East that had between 0.9-3.3 per cent of cathinone.

The study participants were also screened for use of other substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
The study reports a link between chewing miraa and symptoms indicative of mental problems that were independent of alcohol and or tobacco.Image result for Miraa users
But last Thursday, Dr Evans Amukoye, deputy director of Kemri, told The Standard there was no contradiction in the two positions presented by the researchers.
He said in both cases, an association of mental illness and use of khat was found but when controlled for alcohol and other drug use, the link was not significant.

Should Miraa be banned in Kenya?

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