Vicious cycle
THE practice of injecting diluted methamphetamine into blood streams, then sharing the druginfused blood with other users is an alarming trend that is attracting attention around the country.
It is one of the fastest ways of transmitting HIV, we are told!
This, says Dr Dashika Balak, the senior medical officer in charge of the Central and Eastern division’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinic, is a common tale shared by people seeking HIV-related services at their Suva clinic. Dr Balak said ‘Bluetoothing’ means a person injects a potent dose of a drug into their own vein and then they withdraw blood, and that blood is shared among people.
The common drug used is methamphetamine. What in the world is happening to us!
Some users, she said, were injecting meth into their veins, then drawing out their blood mixed with the diluted meth and sharing that.
HIV, she said, was not the only illness that could be transmitted through bluetoothing.
She highlighted two other diseases - Hepatitis B and C! HIV clinics across the country have been working with government stakeholders and partners to address the illnesses popping up in light of the drug problem now rampant in Fiji.
We are now left with many questions.
How did we ever get to this stage?
What are some of the underlying causes, and what is driving this trend?
Surely financial factors are involved.
Sure, we need to look at the negative implications in terms of HIV and the two diseases we mentioned above.
Then there is the need to consider why users are doing this in the first place.
We reflect once again on the need for the powers that be to consider setting up rehabilitation centres in anticipation of the growing number of addicts.
We have been advocating this, raising the urgent need for us to be mindful of the scenarios that exist now in terms of drug addiction.
The impacts of addiction are scary. The future is scary!
We reflect on associated ills in terms of crimes and the impact on the mind and body, and on communities, and families.
We are grappling with a disturbing trend here.
It is risky. It is dangerous!
But it must be a reminder for us all about the devastating consequences of drug addiction, and drug abuse.
Understanding the root causes means appreciating social and economic factors. It means being proactive. It means promoting education and raising awareness, and empowering people to appreciate the dangers associated with drugs.
What we need right now is a united front that focuses on these root causes, and also drives the need for rehabilitation centres to assist people to get out of the vicious cycle of drug addiction.