December 9, 2008

South African Teens Smoke HIV Meds to Get High

Continuing a recent trend of recreational use of antiretroviral (ARV) medication in South Africa, schoolchildren have been found mixing HIV drugs with marijuana or painkillers and smoking them, BBC News reports.

Reports suggest that the drugs are being sold by patients and health care staff in exchange for money.

“I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked at first—these were school boys in their school uniforms,” documentary filmmaker Tooli Nhlapo told the BBC World Service’s Outlook. “When I asked them why they like doing it, they said it helps them relax and forget about their problems.”

According to the article, the medications are sought after for their hallucinogenic properties, and their abuse has become a national problem in South Africa. Health officials say a system in needed to track drug usage.

“We need pharmacists and good administrators, but again it is a social problem,” said Kas Kasongo, MD, who advises on an ARV drugs panel in South Africa. “I don’t think our role as doctors should be just to dish out drugs. We have to make sure the drugs are taken as recommended.”

Dr. Kasongo warns that those engaging in recreational abuse of these drugs are exposing themselves to the medication’s sometimes harmful side effects.

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Previous Comments:

Jay, rio grande valley texas, 2008-12-11 13:16:24
we are one world. and we are all apart of it. divided we fall. we need to take care of the entire world. Everyone.

tired of africa, atlanta, 2008-12-10 13:30:03
im tired of the ignorant nation of africa take care of usa more quit sendin wasted money over to them crooks..lets take care of our own in usa ...all i hear is africa africa africa ...my thoughts go to embezzeled wasted money. let their own take care of africa,,,and if afri-cans here are so worried let them moved back home!!!!!