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What is Miraa?

• Miraa is a plant whose fresh leaves and soft twigs are chewed to

release a juice containing cathinone and cathine, the active

chemicals that alter the mood of the abuser.

• Consumers also refer to miraa using less familiar names such as

Khat, Veve, Muguka, Guks, Gomba, Mbachu, Mairungi, Alele,

Giza or Halwa.

Chewing"miraa causes serious problems to your body especially

in the longer term.

• Miraa is a prohibited substance in some countries and ininternational sports. You are automatically disqualified from

participating in international tournaments such as the Olympic

Games and World Cup Football if detected to have used miraa.

Effects on your health

• Miraa has similar but less intense effects than the stimulating

effects of cocaine.• Upon chewing, you experience an unusual feeling of excitement

and alertness. You may talk too much, lose concentration on

simple tasks or even forget simple facts.

• Chewing miraa causes rapid heart rate and increased blood

pressure, symptoms that are some times confused with increased

sexual libido or stamina.

• When chewed continually, miraa gives you chronic constipation

since it causes dehydration.

• Using miraa to stay awake places you in danger of causing harm

through accidents. When your body suddenly goes to sleep due

to accumulated sleep, you can cause road traffic or factor

accidents thereby inflicting damage to life and property.

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Effects on your reproduction

• The c la im that chewing miraa increases your sexual lib ido is a myth.

Instead, evidence suggests that miraa inhibits blood f low to the

reproductive system.

• Chewing miraa constric ts the vesse ls supply ing b lood to thereproductive tract thereby causing inhibited urine f low, and in men,

the inabil ity to attain and sustain an erection.

• The chemicals in miraa make your body to produce excessive amounts

of sperm without you being sexually aroused. The sperms ooze out

uncontrollably, a condit ion known as spermatorrhoea. In extreme

cases, men are forced to wear nappies or several underpants.

• In women, the dehydrating e ffect o f miraa dries the lin ing o f thereproductive tract leading to pain during sexual intercourse and

blistering. The micro-injuries can cause reproductive tract infections

and sexually transmitted diseases.

• Chewing miraa during pregnancy decreases b lood f low to u terus,

disrupting f low of nutr ients from your bloodstream to the unborn baby.

NACADA

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Eastern Wing 18th FloorBishops Road

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Nairobi, Kenya

Telephone/FaxlEmai I/Website

Tel: 0202721997,2721993,2737679

Fax: 0202721994, 2722142

Email: info@nacada.go.kehelp@nacada.go.ke

Website: www.nacada.go.ke

NACADA AUTHORITY