Monday, April 21, 2025

January 29, 2019

BBC’s Terrifying Look At South Africa’s Nyaope Epidemic [Video]

Golden Mtika looks into nyaope, the drug cocktail that combines heroin, rat poison or antiretrovirals which is plaguing South Africa's townships.

It’s unlikely that you’ll reach adulthood without encountering some recreational drug use – at a festival, in clubs or at a friend’s house. Even if you’ve never touched the stuff, you probably know someone who has ‘dabbled’.

If you’re lucky, you’ll never come across nyaope –  a drug that uses heroin as a base and then combines it with rat poison and antiretrovirals, which can then be smoked or injected.

The drug came into use in South Africa around 2010. It’s a particularly destructive, highly addictive street drug and users are unlikely to get out of their addiction alive.

BBC Africa Eye crime reporter Golden Mtika explored the problem – a problem that has affected his family directly – through the story of an addict called Jesus, who somehow managed to survive the drug.

You can watch his story here:

That’s some tough living right there.

You can see the full 27-minute BBC Africa doccie below:

If you or someone you know suffers from drug or alcohol dependency, help is at hand HERE.

[source:bbc]