Nyaope, also known as sugars, whoonga or wunga, is a highly addictive street drug that has come into widespread use in South Africa since 2010. A person can become highly addicted after using the drug only once.
Nyaope is made from a combination of marijuana (or dagga as it is known), low grade heroin and often cut with chlorine, cleaning detergents, rat poison and medications such as methaqualone (Mandrax) or HIV antiviral drugs etc.
Nyaope dangers
Once addicted a person’s life is destroyed by the daily need for the drug and around 12 to 15 bags will be required per day to keep the very painful withdrawals symptoms at bay.
Withdrawals can cause excruciating pains in the joints and stomach and vomiting as well as severe mood swings of anger and paranoia. The user will have nutrient deficiencies due to a poor diet leading to further illness and infections.
Withdrawal symptoms of nyaope
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Depression
- Diarrhoea
- Excessive yawning or sneezing
- Itching
- Muscle and bone cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Spasms
- Stomach cramps
- Sweats
The associated pain and fear of withdrawal keep the user in a constant state of use (a cycle). After the initial effects of euphoria and relaxation, a feeling of drowsiness and elation can persist for several hours. Mental function is clouded and heart functions, as well as breathing functions, are slowed.
Most users of nyaope start off smoking it, but once their tolerance to the substance builds up, the user moves on to injecting themselves to achieve a more intense ‘high’. The consequences of long-term use can be grave and long-lasting.
Some consequences of long term nyaope use
- Abscesses
- Bacterial/fungal endocarditis (a serious infection and inflammation of the heart’s inner lining)
- Hepatitis
- HIV AIDS
- Overdose and death
- Scaring from continued injecting
- Venous sclerosis
The consequences of nyaope addiction are long-lasting and devastating, not only for the addict but their families and their communities. Getting professional help is necessary for anyone coming off nyaope. Then the addict needs assistance learning to cope and manage with life without the use of substances.
Related subjects
- A-Z of hazards to health
- Bacterial infections and natural antibiotics
- Brain and mental health disorders
- Fungal and yeast infections
- Medication dangers
- Recreational drug dangers
- Virus infections
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