蜜芽传媒

Khat - or chat as it's called in Ethiopia - was made illegal two years ago here in the UK. But it remains legal across East Africa, and continues to be chewed socially here in the UK. Communities are divided. For some, visiting the mafrish - or khat house - is as commonplace and sociable as drinking beer at a pub. For others, the physical and mental health implications mean work and family life is being negatively affected by low-level addiction. Our reporter, Nicola Kelly has been to a khat house in the East End of London to talk to some of those who feel they don't want to live without it.#

(Picture: A box of khat in a shop in north west London. Credit: AFP/Getty)