Whoonga: The Abuse Of AIDS Drugs

Many people who believe themselves to be opportunists take advantage of recreational drug users and their constant need to try new drugs for new experiences. By doing this, they may be creating a larger problem than they realize. They may have had a hand in creating a super-strain of HIV.

Mainly in South Africa, it has been shown that two of the steady drugs for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) treatment have begun to be used in a recreational fashion. It is commonly observed that many HIV patients are often physically resistant to the front-line medications, even if they've never been through treatment before – the treatment will not work for their body for some unknown reason. This may be, in part, due to the abuse that they may have been already exposed to.

Creating a larger problem than just drug addiction and abuse, the recreational use of the two commonly prescribed medications, efavirenz (brand name Sustiva) and ritonavir (brand name Norvir), can cause resistance to the medical function in people with HIV. This can happen when people with HIV smoke “whoonga” – an illicit concoction of a street drug, like heroin, and an AIDS medication. This can create mutant strains of the virus that is resistant to the medication. Another way this resistance is caused is by one person becoming infected with a strain of HIV that came from someone who used whoonga. One study has shown that this medicinal resistance has effected 3 to 5 percent of people with HIV.

A Harvard School of Public Health researcher explained that the main reason that these AIDS drugs are being abused is because of their enhancement of a high from another drug. For example, efavirenz (Sustiva) has the tendency to cause exceptionally colorful, vivid dreams due to its powerful effects on the central nervous system. When used with street drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin, it would be able to enhance the high that those drug produce because of its effects on the central nervous system. When mixed with some street drugs such as Ecstasy and powder cocaine, ritonavir (Norvir) will boost or extend the high that those drugs produce.

Although this abuse of the AIDS medications is not necessarily new, it hasn't had enough attention, and not enough people are seeing the significance of a strain of HIV that is resistant to what little medication we have available to fight this virus. This recreational use has been documented as early as 2007, found in clubgoers of Miami, Florida.

Not only is this drug dangerous because of the way it enhances the already dangerous effects of drugs like heroin and Ecstasy, but it is also dangerous for humankind. Each time someone uses a prescription drug for HIV in a recreational way, someone who needs that drug for medical purposes either doesn't get it, or has become resistant because of this abuse. Drug addiction and abuse is a serious problem and not enough people are aware and concerned. If you or a loved one have a problem with drug addiction or abuse in any way, get help immediately.