It has become such a problem, that every day the Saudi Border Guard arrest people who try to smuggle Qat into the Kingdom's Jizan region. According to statistics from the Border Guard, in the first half of 2009, over one million kilograms of Qat was confiscated and 2,106 smugglers arrested. Qat can be bought reasonably cheaply in Yemen for between SR30 and SR50 a packet. Sales are not based on weight, but instead on the freshness of the leaves. The market is more lucrative in Saudi Arabia, where a package of Qat can fetch SR200 on the black market. However, prices can reach SR500 a packet during the two Eids, the matches of the Saudi Arabian national soccer team, and the matches of the local soccer league. Smugglers bring the intoxicating plant from Saada, Themar and Al-Hudaydah in Yemen because it is very close to the Saudi-Yemeni border. Smugglers use different methods to get Qat into the Kingdom. They fill canvas bags with the plant and use animals for transportation through mountainous areas and valleys. In this way they try to avoid detection and arrest. The leaves of the plant are wrapped in banana leaves to retain moistness and freshness. The plant is grown widely in Yemen and Ethiopia. Each province in Yemen has its own kind of Qat. Some people believe it is part of their tradition and culture. “When tourists come to Yemen, we take them all over. After lunch we present them with Qat to chew, as part of our tradition,” said Mahdi Saleh, a Yemeni citizen living in the Kingdom. However there is a dark side to chewing the plant, with people becoming addicted and resorting to illegal and immoral behavior. Others feel depressed if they do not have the drug. Some of those addicted steal money, sell the jewelry of their wives and daughters or borrow from friends and relatives to buy the drug. “If I don't chew Qat every day, then I don't feel well. I have been addicted to chewing it for more than 35 years. It has become part of my life and I cannot leave it,” said Saleh Al-Zubaidy, a 45-year-old Yemeni citizen. People addicted to Qat always eat a meal before chewing the plant. Addicts try to eat first because use of the drug causes them to lose their appetite. “When I smoke and chew Qat I feel that I am the best person in the world and have the ability to do anything. However, once I finish chewing it, I feel very angry and want to fight with everyone,” said Ahmed Ali, a Yemeni citizen living in Saudi Arabia. Although Qat harms the body, many still plan to continue to use it. Mohammed Ali, 35, who has been chewing Qat for more than 20 years, told Saudi Gazette that it makes him feel good. “When I chew Qat I forget all of my problems. I have been suffering a great deal because I lost one of my children in an accident. Once I chew Qat, my thinking changes and I am happy,” he said. Another Qat addict also said he will not stop. “I have just graduated from high school but with poor marks. I have applied to continue to study at university and college but I haven't been accepted. As a result, I chew Qat so I can pass the time,” said Ahmed Adawey, 20. Qat is a slow-growing shrub or tree with evergreen leaves. Depending on the region in which it grows and the amount of rainfall that it receives, the plant can grow to between 1.5 and 20 meters in height. The leaves are between five to 10 centimeters long and one to four centimeters wide. According to the website, www.druginfo.adf.org.au, Qat is a stimulant which speeds up the messages going between the brain and the body. Chewing it can make a person feel alert and energized but it can also cause a number of health and sleeping problems, as well as mood swings. Unwanted physical and health effects associated with long-term use of Qat include: increases in the severity of psychological problems, difficulty sleeping, impotence, gastrointestinal tract problems, such as constipation, inflammation of the mouth and other parts of the oral cavity, and oral cancer. Using Qat over a long period of time or in large amounts can also lead to problems such as depression, anxiety and irritation. It can sometimes lead to a person developing more severe psychological problems.
