Evil in the smoke

NYAOPE is a highly addictive street drug, which is slowly starting to dominate the drug market in townships.

This drug is cheap and easily available, but extremely dangerous, with some of the ingredients being heroin, anti-retroviral drugs, rat poison, bicarbonate of soda, milk powder and pool cleaner.

Nyaope is usually mixed with dagga and smoked.

A nyaope user in Polokwane spoke to Express on condition of anonymity.

He said he started smoking nyaope years ago when he was in college. “I was already using dagga at the time so switching to nyaope was easy. A friend of mine introduced me to it and I was immediately hooked.”

While he wanted to stop using nyaope one day, he said, he did not plan to stop now.

He said nyaope made him relax and forget about his problems.

“After smoking, my mind shifts to a peaceful world. I prefer to be alone when this happens or with the people that I usually smoke with because once I am relaxed, I don’t want to talk or hear any noise,” he said.

He added that the high could last up to five hours depending on which type of nyaope he used.

Unfortunately, when he came off his high, his problems were still there, and this caused him to smoke more and more.

He admitted that he had health problems because of the nyaope.

“Sometimes I feel sick. I become nauseous and vomit, have no appetite, experience stomach cramps, always feel sleepy and have also lost a lot of weight,” he said.

He said his weight loss was the most disturbing side effect as people were starting to notice and thought he was suffering from a chronic disease.

“I smoke up to nine joints a day and buy one bag for R40 or R50. depending on the quality.

“When I don’t have money, I am forced to sell my clothes and some of my possessions such as my cell phone and laptop,” he admitted.

He vehemently discouraged others, especially youngsters, from trying nyaope. “It is highly addictive and could kill you.”

Local general practitioner, Dr Manape Manamela, confirmed that nyaope was highly addictive, as its main ingredient was heroin.

“Parents must pay attention to certain signs in their children. If they are dirty, don’t eat, and their speech is slurred, and if they perform poorly at school or work, they could be using nyaope or other drugs,” he said.

Clinical psychologist, Mathivha Mudzunga said nyaope users were usually in denial and would not admit they had a problem and needed help.

“They refuse to admit the truth because they are scared of being judged by their families and friends. They feel like life is boring without drugs,” she said.

She further said if users sought help, their loved ones should support them as this was a part of the healing process.

“Some of the treatment available requires addicts to use medication to clean the drugs out of their systems but the most popular one is therapy, be it group or individual.

“Many addicts prefer to use group therapy because it offers a support network, peer support acceptance, real world examples from other people who are experiencing recovery and it’s a family like environment.”

She urged users to seek help urgently.

Speaking on behalf of the Limpopo police, Col Ronél Otto said nyaope was an illegal drug and anyone caught with it could pay a hefty fine or serve considerable time in jail.