Blood found in syringe in PTA

According to Ancelize van der Kooi, spokesperson of Kilnerpark Security, they suspect it had been used by addicts to shoot up and “bluetooth”, Pretoria Rekord Moot reports.

In February, addicts were found to have started a new, “very disturbing” method of drug-taking known as bluetooth to share a high. One person shoots up, then the others who cannot afford to buy drugs for themselves draw the shooter’s blood and inject it into their veins.

Van der Kooi said that tests confirmed the red substance in the syringe that was found still attached to a needle was human blood.

“We cannot confirm if there were drugs in the blood, but we highly suspect that it was used for bluetooth,” she said.

READ MORE: Nyaope addicts exchange blood to share the buzz in terrifying ‘Bluetooth’ trend

Bluetooth hit the news in February after a Facebook user posted a photo of three men apparently sharing blood.

“Nyaope alone is deadly. This new method, if there’s really anything like that, can be the death of anyone (sic) who tries it considering the fact that one could get infected with a series of deadly diseases including HIV through the method,” the post stated.

According to the Facebook user, this method was practised by some nyaope addicts around Soshanguve.

Rekord spoke to nyaope addicts outside Mabopane station in February, who said though they used syringes to shoot up, they never shared blood.

Sanca Soshanguve manager Hendrik Lefoka said in February, the reports were very disturbing considering there was an increase in the abuse of legal medications in Soshanguve.

“These are medications such as ARVs, painkillers and cough syrup, leading to what has been called ‘silent addictions’. The abuse of all forms of drugs is a huge problem that needs urgent attention, and it will require a concerted effort by all residents to defeat it,” he said.

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– Caxton News Service

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