What is the drug: Whoonga

Whoonga is a South African street name for heroin, and is the most prevalent drug in KwaZulu-Natal. This is similar to drugs like nyaope and sugars. As a street drug, there is a lot of speculation and myth about what it is made of and its additives. While there is a high likelihood of sellers cutting it with harmful substances to make it cheaper or more addictive, whoonga is a name for heroin.

Here is more information about Heroin. All of the information that applies to heroin also applies to whoonga. In this article, we are going to go over the important things that are the same, but focus on what makes whoonga different.

What ingredients is whoonga made of?

Because pure whoonga is heroin, the ingredient is the same: morphine extracted from opium poppies. Whoonga is typically a low-grade form of heroin, likely containing contaminants and sometimes cut with other drugs like marijuana. It’s this cutting of the drug that can make whoonga so dangerous, as it can quickly lead to overdose or other toxic side effects.

There is a myth that whoonga gets cut with anti-retroviral (ARV) medication and chemicals from flat screen televisions. While it is possible to cut the drug with ARVs and other chemicals, this myth is largely false, with no actual evidence of the practice.

How is whoonga used?

In South Africa, whoonga is typically smoked in a glass pipe, sometimes called a “sugar straw.” There is also a common practice of baking whoonga into “space muffins” as an alternative to marijuana.

The baked cake, space muffin, is often sold to children who don’t know that there is a drug inside it. It is vitally important not to trust cakes being sold on the street or in shops that aren’t official places to buy, and to report any instance of a child acting out after eating baked goods. Heroin is a very addictive drug, any amount of accidental ingestion can lead to a lifetime of fighting addiction if ignored.

What does whoonga do to your body?

Like heroin, whoonga binds to and activates mu-opioid receptors in the brain, spinal cord and intestinal tract. Once activated, there is a large release of dopamine, creating an intense feeling of pleasure, which also makes this drug so addictive. This high can last for 6 to 24 hours and may also be accompanied by other side effects.

Short-term side effects of whoonga

Depending on the individual reaction and dose, some more serious effects can occur that require immediate medical attention. These include internal bleeding, stomach ulcers and overdose. If you suspect that you or someone around you is experiencing these symptoms, contact the local emergency response ASAP. In South Africa, our ambulance number to call is 10177.

Long-term side effects of whoonga

Because of how whoonga affects brain chemistry, long-term use starts to deteriorate white matter in the brain, causing many adverse effects alongside other long-term use effects like:

Another long-term risk is heroin use disorder. This is considered a disease, and it goes past physical dependence. The user could have come completely clean from whoonga or any other heroin containing substance and still crave and seek out the drug, no matter the consequences to themselves or people around them.

Are there emotional effects of whoonga?

In short, yes. Whoonga, and heroin, have large emotional effects on the user. Immediately, someone using whoonga could expect to feel euphoria or contentment and disconnection from their emotions, becoming very calm. Over time, this feeling can be matched with irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression and paranoia.

Since this is a street drug, the exact emotional effects can be inconsistent. But these emotional effects of whoonga happen because the brain gets flooded with dopamine, giving a high that messes with the brain’s stress regulation systems, making everyday stressors overwhelming.

How to quit or stop smoking whoonga

Because of how deeply heroin affects the brain, stopping can feel impossible, and the withdrawal symptoms are both physically and emotionally intense. Many people who want to quit find themselves using again just to escape those feelings, not because they lack willpower, but because their brain has been chemically changed by the drug. This is why professional rehabilitation is so important. A rehab centre can provide medically supervised detox to manage withdrawal safely, alongside psychological support to address the root causes of addiction. Recovery is possible, and people do it every day. With the right support around you, quitting whoonga is not only achievable but is the beginning of getting your life back.

Whoonga treatment in South Africa

The Way Recovery is a leading rehabilitation centre in South Africa with experience in the treatment of all drugs, including whoonga. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. One of our professional staff members will help you take the next step to recovery.

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