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Brilio.net/en - Kath or Cat or methcathinone, its scientific name, is a drug quite unknown outside of Africa.
Synthesized for the first time in former Soviet Union, it has been studied by researchers since the late twenties to be prescribed as an antidepressant. Its use has been forbidden after the cold war due to many cases of misuse. Nonetheless, Kath remained quite popular in the sixties until the apparition of other drugs.
After its ban from USSR, the American pharmaceutical company Parke Davis started to explore the Kaths capacities in order to cure depression and enhance weight loss. However, research was promptly halted when scientists became aware of the extremely addictive side of the drug. In 1989, a student working for Parke Davis laboratory apparently managed to take out some Kath and pass it to other students. This is the first apparition of the drug on the western market and it actually didnt last long.
The success of Kath was indeed lower compared to the other drugs available on the market (cocaine, ecstasy, amphetamine, etc.). Even if Kath is as addictive as crack can be, the effects are lighter. According to the opinions, the main effect of the drug is an overall relaxation feeling but also a sense of having everything perfectly under control, whilst increasing creativity. A regular consumption of Kath has an impact on ones sleep: four days in a row without sleeping in the most extreme cases, and a pretty difficult comedown which side effects include: high depression and psychosis symptoms, causing the need for most consumers to retake doses often.
Globally, Kath isnt that popular, except in South Africa where it has had a phenomenal ascent lately. The reasons of this success? Ease of production and thus affordable cost.
As it poses a great alternative to other drugs, mostly very expensive in South Africa, Kath is called the poor mans cocaine. The trees from which the substances are extracted that compose Kath are mainly growing in South Africa! Cost of transportation are therefore low which only leaves the cost of fabrication, and according to experts those are cheap and within the reach of anybody owning a filter, a microwave and a fridge.
Even if Kath is consumed in other African countries, this party drug is currently the most popular in the South African market where many dealers networks have been recently dismantled. However, the unstable situation of the country keeps the police extremely busy on other matters, giving less time to really deal with the Kath issue. There hasnt been any official comments from the Government yet, even if this could soon become a big concern for the country.
(brl/tis)
