The pioneers in the fight against cancer, Saving Lives Foundation, are at it again. This time, they want to stop gender-based violence and the use of nyaope.

This weekend's sports extravaganza will take place from Saturday to Sunday (1/10) at the Skomboys Ground, near Mashilo Matsho Primary School, Little Village, at Bela-Bela in Limpopo. 

[ON AIR]: A cheap and deadly drug, known as Nyaope, is ravaging townships, fueling crime and tearing families apart. Yet, officials seem as helpless to stop it. @N_Mazibuk0 is looking into Nyaope users and interventions to curb drug abuse. #POWERLunch pic.twitter.com/C2Xq2BRNCZ

— POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) August 29, 2019

Several former soccer players are anticipated to attend the event.

“We as the Saving Lives Foundation have identified several ex-users of nyaope and their families to come and enjoy the day with us.

“Usually as community members, we harass the parents of drug users, forgetting that they too belong in the communities and often they are discriminated against because of their children’s drug usage,” said organiser Mothusi Malebye.

The sportswriter Thomas Kwenaite will be honoured at the event. Photo supplied

The extravaganza will also honour sports writer Thomas Kwenaite for his contribution to South African football, as he is from Moretele in North West.

The tournament will include 32 teams. The greatest players will be identified by scouts for tryouts at higher leagues.

“We expect our event to attract no less than 10,000 sport lovers, as a few months ago we hosted an event and 8,000 people attended,” said Malebye.

Director at Top Compliance – Occupational Health and Safety Consultancy and Training, Pat Marckx Wessels, said nyaope is a fine white powder which is usually combined with dagga (marijuana) and is then smoked. The fine white powder can be made up from anything from rat poison, heroin, detergent powder, anti-retroviral drugs, TB medication, milk powder, pool cleaner to bicarbonate of soda. Many of the additives are there to add bulk to the heroin and thus the purity/strengths will vary.

Users roll nyaope with dagga in a cigarette (zoll) and then smoke it. The amount of dagga determines the strength of the cigarette. It sells for about R20 to R30 per portion. A person may become highly addicted after using the drug only once.

Pat Marckx Wessels. Photo: LinkedIn

When the euphoric state wears off, agonising withdrawal symptoms set in like severe abdominal pain and back ache, sweating, chills, anxiety, restlessness, depression, nausea and diarrhoea. It is the severe withdrawal that makes nyaope so addictive. A user is terrified of having to deal with the feelings of anxiety and physical pain, so the only possible cure available is another hit, and then another one, and another one after that.

Wessels said rehabilitation from nyaope addiction requires medical intervention as well as group therapy. Medical supervision and medication are necessary to ease withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal from substance abuse is a medical emergency. If you know someone who may be addicted assist them to seek help at the emergency section of the nearest hospital.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame