What Is the CAT Drug and how Long Does CAT Stay in Your System?

What Is the CAT Drug and how Long Does CAT Stay in Your System?

What Is the CAT Drug and how Long Does CAT Stay in Your System?

Khat or Methcathinone is a highly addictive and illegal stimulant drug that’s like methamphetamine. It can be snorted, smoked, injected, or ingested orally. CAT is derived from the Catha edulis plant that’s native to Africa. It was first synthesized in the 1920s and used by the Soviet Union as an antidepressant, but never made it to the pharmacy shelves in the United States. Like other stimulants, CAT works by altering the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, producing feelings of euphoria, alertness, and pleasure. Methcathinone is often compared to other stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine because they produce similar symptoms. 

CAT drug abuse is a growing problem. Because it’s an illicit and man-made substance, CAT can be illegally manufactured and distributed across the globe, just like meth. No one is immune to this drug, and those who are exposed to it are at risk of addiction. Once consumed, the effects of khat peak after approximately 15 to 30 minutes. The drug has a half-life of approximately three hours, Khat is an Amphetamine which is a central nervous system stimulant that increases alertness, self-confidence, and concentration while creating a feeling of increased energy and decreased appetite. Amphetamine is available by prescription but is also used illicitly as a recreational drug. It is also sometimes used by athletes as a performance-enhancing drug.

The length of time in which drugs can be detected in urine varies depending on several factors, like:

• The type of drug you used
• How long ago you used the drug
• How long and how frequently you used the drug

How Long Does Amphetamine Stay in Your System?

Urine: Up to five days

Blood: Up to 48 hours

Saliva: Up to five days

Hair: Up to three months

Withdrawal

The severity of withdrawal symptoms ranges from mild to severe, depending on the frequency, amount, and duration of the person’s khat use. The symptoms people experience when withdrawing from khat tend to be relatively mild.⁷ The possible symptoms of khat withdrawal include:

• Mood changes
• Cravings
• Irritability
• Depression

Stories of Recovery

• The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
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• On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
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• I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
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• "Just for today I am more than three years in recovery. I have Cross Roads to thank for this wonderful gift. Cross Roads helped me to set a firm foundation in my recovery on which I can continue to build."
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