Share

HIV infection 'bonus' for whoonga addicts

Johannesburg - For youths addicted to whoonga, an HIV infection is a “bonus” because it gives them access to the antiretroviral (ARV) drugs used in the mixture.
 
The drug efavirenz, which is prescribed under its brand name, Stocrin, to HIV-positive patients on ARV treatment, is one of the ingredients used to make whoonga.

Vumani Gwala runs Project Whoonga, a community organisation aimed at educating youths in KwaDabeka and Clermont near Durban about the dangers of drugs.

Clermont has been identified as the township with the highest prevalence of whoonga use and addiction in the country. Whoonga is sold there for as little as R20 and is popular among the 15, 16 and 17-year-old age group.

Gwala said its widespread use had led to a dramatic increase in crime in the township.

“To the addicts it’s a matter of life and death to get the drug. It does not matter how they get it,” he said.

Carol du Toit of the SA National Council on Alcoholism and Drugs in Durban said there had been a steady increase in whoonga use in the past six months.

Du Toit said although Stocrin had been widely used in whoonga in the past two years, it now appeared heroin was fast becoming the more popular choice.

She said whoonga sellers targeted economically depressed areas like informal settlements and townships with high unemployment and poverty levels.

Gwala said whoonga street sellers were very often “poor youth in the community and the best place for them to do business is schools. So our aim is to go to schools and teach about drugs. Basically we want to get to the child before the drug dealers do,” she said.

Still, Du Toit pointed out that while drugs like whoonga, nyaope and tik were a menace, alcohol still remained the ­biggest problem among South African youths.



 
We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 355 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 489 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.93
-0.1%
Rand - Pound
23.90
-0.0%
Rand - Euro
20.44
+0.1%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.1%
Platinum
904.58
+0.9%
Palladium
1,012.82
+1.1%
Gold
2,218.03
+1.1%
Silver
24.80
+0.7%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.9%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.9%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE