TIK ADDICTION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Crystal meth is typically sold in ‘straws’ and would cost between R15 and R30. Tik the drug can be found in many forms, from a fine powder to larger crystals. It can be snorted, orally ingested, injected or smoked – smoking being the most common method in South Africa.
On the street, Tik the drug has many names, including “tuk-tuk”, crystal, straws and globes. The powder or crystal is placed in a light bulb after the metal threading has been removed. A lighter is used to heat the bulb and the user smokes the fumes. Some users call the drug “tuk-tuk” because of the clicking sound it makes when smoked. Stolen light bulbs from cars are a sure sign of Tik the drug being smoked in that area.

These are the typical symptoms of a Tik addict:

- Loss of appetite, weight loss.
- Loss of personal hygiene standards.
- Increase in irritability and a short-temper.
- Unnecessary aggressive attitudes and behaviours.
- Dilated pupils.
- Rapid speech.
- High anxiety.
- Psychotic symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, aggressive itching of specific areas of the body)
- Constant headaches.
- An overly friendly manner with a false confidence.
- Insomnia.
- Changes in dress, friends and slang.
- Drug paraphernalia: light bulbs, glass straws.
- Regular visits to the doctors due to contraction of sexually transmittable diseases.