Self-regulation in khat use: a qualitative study in Ethiopia

Korte beschrijving

This PhD is based on a qualitative study among people who use khat in the city of Jimma, Ethiopia. The dissertation's central argument is that khat use is goal-oriented — encompassing enhancement, coping, social, and conformity goals — and that people who use khat regulate their chewing behaviour to maximize the achievement of these goals and minimize potential harms, using protective behavioural strategies. The study demonstrates how the typical khat chewing topography supports the claim of self-regulation in khat use, and how transitions in khat use trajectories, including escalation and ‘relapse,’ indicate a homeostatic tendency to adapt to life events rather than a loss of control. Moreover, the dissertation discusses how institutional neglect of khat use behaviour is acting as structural violence against the capacity for self-regulation among people who use khat. Finally, the study’s findings suggest the need to recognize and promote self-regulation practices to mitigate potential negative consequences, without necessarily insisting on quitting or criminalizing the use of the substance.