"I started that day and continued for 2 years": A case report on adolescent 'whoonga' addiction. (2nd November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Groenewald, Candice; Essack, Zaynab
• Is Part Of: Journal of substance use. Volume 24:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 580
• Publication Date: 2019-11-02
• Subjects: Adolescent drug abuse -- addiction -- lived experience -- phenomenology -- South Africa; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Medication abuse -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2019.1642408
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-9891

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: 'Whoonga' is a new craze drug that young people in South Africa are increasingly using. It consists of a cocktail of drugs and is considered to be highly addictive. Yet, there is a paucity of research that describes young people's experiences of using this drug. Method: Using an interpretative phenomenological approach, this case report describes the highly addictive and destructive nature of adolescent whoonga addiction. Results: The adolescent's narrative revealed that initial experimentation with 'whoonga' has the potential to rapidly escalate into full addiction over a short period of time. Whoonga addiction was also associated with involvement in criminal activities to support the adolescent's high drug use demands. Conclusion: Whoonga is a dangerous street drug that requires immediate attention is South Africa.