In South Africa, Nyaope addicts have taken to sharing the needle to get a fix. They call it Bluetooth and the addicts defend themselves, saying: "Sharing is caring."
The addicts swap their blood using one old and dirty syringe. "Bluetooth" is when an already high nyaope addict takes blood from his own veins and gives it to his fellow addicts, who take turns to inject themselves so they can get high as well.
The addicts who rely on the first user usually don't have enough money to buy their own nyaope. They buy 10 millilitres of blood for about R10. A nyaope smoker from Makapanstad said this is called "compromising".
"Injecting it is the quickest way of getting high," a 25-year-old addict told Daily Sun, demonstrating how it is done.
"The addict mixes the drug with a small amount of water and pulls it into a syringe, injecting himself.
"When I'm smoking, it takes at least two packets of nyaope to loosen up. When I inject, it takes just one packet to get bofolla."
The addicts inject themselves in the arms, necks and even their privates.
It appears to be happening in many parts of Tshwane, including Attridgeville, Soshanguve, Mamelodi, Hammanskraal and parts of North West such as Makapanstad and Mathibestad, where nyaope use is popular.
One 19-year-old said they each pay R10 and mix 30 millilitres of the drug, injecting themselves with 10 millilitres each and using the same syringe.
"We know about the risks. We use loyal partners. You have to trust them and then everything is fine."
Dr Steven Mushadu said sharing syringes and needles in drug use is very dangerous.
"It can have deadly consequences. This practice exposes one to various infections such as hepatitis, which is inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection, HIV and Aids, cellulitis and thrombophlebitis, where you get a clot and inflammation of the veins."
He said drugs like this contain substances that cause harm to vital organs such as the brain, kidneys, heart and liver.
Source - Dailysun
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