“Consider our plight”: A cry for help from nyaope users

Abstract

Nyaope is a relatively new drug which until recently was not classified as illegal. It is widely used by many young and poor people in predominantly Black townships and users can be easily identified as they usually assemble in open spaces such as parks and taxi ranks and have formed a community through which they support one another in the habit. In addition to this, users often display poor personal hygiene and often resort to stealing and selling stolen goods in order to sustain their habit. There is a paucity of literature on nyaope and its use and impact, and the present study is a qualitative exploration of the experiences of nyaope users in three provinces, namely Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West. The findings highlight the strong addictive nature of the drug, the ease of access, and the unfavourable social environment which promotes initial use and difficulty in quitting. Nyaope users typically express a desire to find and utilise help in order to overcome their current circumstances.