Hazardous Substances
Nyaope / Whoonga (South African Street Heroin)
Street names: Nyaope, Whoonga, Sugars, Ungah
Overdose? Act now. Call emergency services — say "unresponsive, not breathing". Give naloxone for opioid-like signs. Hotlines
⚡What it does
- Heroin-like sedation and escape
- Short duration — frequent dosing
⚠Key risks
- Additives are unknown batch to batch — poisonings are routine
- Smoked off foil with cannabis ('Bluetooth' myths aside, HIV/TB spread through shared pipes and survival sex)
- Violent withdrawal within hours
✚Overdose signs
- Slow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
- Unresponsive
Category comparison — Hazardous Substances
| Substance | Class | Top risks | Street price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nyaope / Whoonga (South African Street Heroin) | Heroin is illegal; additives vary | Additives are unknown batch to batch — poisonings are routine; Smoked off foil with cannabis ('Bluetooth' myths aside, HIV/TB spread through shared pipes and survival sex) | ~$1–$3 per 'cap' |
| Potassium Cyanide (KCN) | Not a drug — regulated toxic chemical | Lethal dose ~200–300 mg — death within minutes to an hour; No antidote available outside hospital; hydrogen cyanide gas from acid contact | N/A — sometimes sold fraudulently as 'peaceful exit' scams |
| Air Duster (Computer Duster / Canned Air) | Household product — not a drug; no age restriction on purchase | SUDDEN SNIFFING DEATH — the most deadly inhalant: difluoroethane sensitizes the heart to adrenaline; a sudden fright, chase, or exertion triggers fatal cardiac arrest. First-time users die; Frostbite to lungs and airway from direct spray | $3–$8 per can at any electronics/office store |
| Gasoline / Petrol Huffing | Not a drug — fuel product | Extremely toxic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, xylene); Sudden sniffing death — cardiac arrest | Effectively free — siphoned fuel |
| Glue / Solvent Sniffing | Not drugs — adhesives and solvents | The CLASSIC youth inhalant — peak use age 14–15; Sudden sniffing death from cardiac arrest | $1–$5 per tube/can — pocket money prices |
| Refrigerant / Freon Huffing | Not a drug — HVAC refrigerant | EXTREMELY dangerous — refrigerant gases (difluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane) cause sudden cardiac death at high rates; Frostbite to airways | Stolen/siphoned — no price, high death cost |
Street prices are regional estimates. Potency and cuts vary constantly.
?Frequently asked questions
What does Nyaope / Whoonga (South African Street Heroin) look like?
Brownish powder — low-grade heroin cut with anything from antiretrovirals to rat poison; smoked with cannabis in South African townships
What are the signs of a Nyaope / Whoonga (South African Street Heroin) overdose?
Slow breathing; Pinpoint pupils; Unresponsive Call emergency services immediately.
How addictive is it?
Additives are unknown batch to batch — poisonings are routine Dependence can develop with regular use.
🔗Sources & further reading
Facts on this page are compiled from these primary sources. External links open in a new tab.