Drug to Battle AIDs Abused for Pleasure

Jacksonville - Many parents have heard of the drugs Cocaine, Heroin, and Meth. They know of the destructive damage they can do, but they will be very surprised to hear of a new drug that many teens are abusing called Efavirenz.

Efavirenz is a prescription drug with the brand names of Sustiva and Stocrins. It is used as part of an antiviral cocktail for patients with HIV and AIDS. This important drug is now being abused by teens for its hallucinogenic and dissociative properties when smoked or snorted.

Abuse of this HIV drug began in AIDS torn country of South Africa and its popularity there as a recreational drug has gained many users. Seeking pleasure and escape, these teens purchase the drug from HIV patients who need money to support their families and combat the disease.

Unfortunately, for these uninformed teens the use of Efavirenz comes with a high price tag – addiction and other side effects including birth defects, psychosis, depression, and memory loss. It is unknown at this time if the abuse of a component from such an effective HIV and AIDS cocktail will affect the cocktails use in the battle with the HIV.