The Wire

Kava is a shrub belonging to the pepper family. It’s used to make a murky drink that is highly addictive as it relaxes the muscles and acts as a sedative. Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory have recently been banned from selling or consuming it. Alan Clough is an Associate Professor at James Cook University and has conducted several reports into the use of Kava in the top end. He explains how the drug was introduced to Australia from Fiji in the 80s as an antidote to Australia’s problem with alcohol abuse.