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      Whoonga: potential recreational use of HIV antiretroviral medication in South Africa.

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          Abstract

          Whoonga is a drug cocktail in South Africa rumored to contain illicit drugs and HIV antiretroviral (ARV) medication. Although its use may adversely impact adherence to HIV treatment and may have the potential to generate ARV resistance, there is a paucity of research characterizing whoonga. We learned of whoonga during semi-structured interviews about substance abuse and HIV risk at "club-events" known as inkwaris in an urban township of Durban, South Africa. Whoonga was an emerging theme spontaneously identified as a problem for the community by 17 out of 22 informants. Perceptions of whoonga suggest that it is highly addictive, contains ARVs (notably efavirenz), is used by individuals as young as 14, and poses a threat to the health and safety of those who use it, including increasing the risk of HIV infection. Our informants provide preliminary evidence of the dangers of whoonga and reinforce the need for further study.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          AIDS Behav
          AIDS and behavior
          Springer Nature
          1573-3254
          1090-7165
          Mar 2014
          : 18
          : 3
          Affiliations
          [1 ] Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA, grelotti@hsph.harvard.edu.
          Article
          NIHMS516695
          10.1007/s10461-013-0575-0
          3926908
          23955659
          6ed64638-e11c-48a3-8bcf-5eb9aa4b5cc7
          History

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