ERMELO – Haunted by poor life choices, Thando Njabulo Nkosi (29) from Long Homes pleaded for assistance to get into rehab and restart his life.

The Cebisa Secondary School Class of 2013 pupil is one of many young people in Ermelo who have been ravaged by the lethal nyaope drug and have given up their lives to end up on the streets.

Nkosi, unlike his smoking associates, comes from a stable family with both parents he describes as supportive, especially his mother, who ensured that he was admitted to college after completing his matric.

Now that he has given his life to the streets and this substance, he is exposed to daily risks.

While Nkosi was speaking to Highvelder, a group of men armed with sticks passed in a vehicle. According to Nkosi, they could have been ready to attack the nyaope group for an alleged robbery.

“This is how we live. Sometimes they just beat us up for crimes we have no idea about. I honestly want to kill myself at times, since I have brought my mother a lot of stress, and it hurts me when she questions why I played with her hard-earned money in this manner. I never imagined I’d end up here,” Nkosi said.

He said the drug has taken a toll on his health as a result of the recent trend of injecting it directly into the bloodstream with needles.

Injectable nyaope is mixed with water in a syringe, and a strong grip is tightened around the arm. After that, a needle will be inserted and blood taken before injecting the liquid back into the vein.

In most cases, users share the same needles or utilise needles found in hospital or clinic refuse bins.

Read complete article in Highvelder newspaper.