title: Whoonga and the abuse and diversion of antiretrovirals in Soweto, South Africa.
abstract: Media reports have described recreational use of HIV antiretroviral medication in South Africa, but little has been written about this phenomenon in the scientific literature. We present original, qualitative data from eight semi-structured interviews that characterize recreational antiretroviral use in Soweto, South Africa. Participants reported that antiretrovirals, likely efavirenz, are crushed, mixed with illicit drugs (in a mixture known as whoonga), and smoked. They described medications being stolen from patients and expressed concern that antiretroviral abuse jeopardized the safety of both patients and users. Further studies are needed to understand the prevalence, patterns, and consequences of antiretroviral abuse and diversion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rough
authors.forename: Janan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dietrich
authors.forename: Thandekile
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Essien
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Grelotti
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bansberg
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Ingrid T
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D013287:Illicit Drugs