Small bottles marketed as “khat drops” and promoted online as a natural energy booster are raising growing health concerns, after tests found some of the products contained methamphetamines instead of the plant they claim to be derived from.
The drops, sold in recent years through social media and messaging platforms such as Telegram, are advertised as a concentrated extract that can boost energy, alertness and mood. The product is often marketed as a natural supplement derived from khat, a plant whose leaves are legally consumed in Israel.
But health experts warn the branding can be misleading and potentially dangerous.
Dr. Roy Zucker, an infectious disease specialist with Clalit Health Services, said laboratory tests of some bottles labeled as “khat drops” found no trace of the plant itself.
“When we tested the substance with the Health Ministry at Sheba Medical Center, we discovered there wasn’t even a drop of khat,” Zucker said. “What we found were pure methamphetamines — a chemical, addictive and problematic substance.”
According to Zucker, concerns about the product grew after reports that the drops produced effects far stronger than expected from natural khat.
Users reported feelings of intense euphoria, unusual alertness lasting for hours, sudden bursts of energy and increased sexual arousal — symptoms that more closely resemble the effects of stimulant drugs.
“These were effects that reminded me of substances much stronger than khat,” he said.
The drops are used by a wide range of people, not only recreational drug users. According to Zucker, consumers include adults and teenagers seeking a boost in daily functioning, such as increased energy, reduced fatigue and improved mood.
Some users also associate the drops with weight loss because they suppress appetite while providing sustained energy.
The products can sell for hundreds of shekels per small bottle.
Under Israeli law, khat leaves themselves are legal, making Israel one of the few countries where the plant can be consumed openly. However, concentrated extracts or processed forms such as drops fall into a legal gray area and may be considered illegal depending on their composition.
Experts say the danger lies in the gap between how the product is marketed and what it may actually contain.
Methamphetamines — sometimes referred to as “crystal meth” — are highly addictive stimulants that can cause severe health problems affecting the heart, brain and other organs.
Zucker said repeated testing of suspicious samples has frequently confirmed the presence of methamphetamines.
“When it feels too good, it’s usually not because the dealer found the best khat in the world,” he said. “It’s often because other substances are added to make people keep coming back.”
Health authorities say enforcement is difficult because the products are often sold online or through informal networks.
Zucker said public awareness is therefore critical.
“If it feels unnatural, it probably isn’t natural,” he said. “In many cases, this is simply a drug.”