The Ogun State Government has issued a strong warning to youths to avoid the dangerous drug practice known as “bluetoothing,” describing it as a deadly trend with severe health consequences.
The Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr. Kehinde Fatungase, raised the alarm in a statement released in Abeokuta on Thursday. He explained that “bluetoothing” involves individuals injecting themselves with the blood of someone who has just taken hard drugs, believing it will allow them to “share the high.”
Fatungase described the act as extremely hazardous, stressing that it exposes individuals to life-threatening infections and undermines the state’s efforts to curb the spread of blood-borne diseases.
According to him, the practice significantly increases the risk of HIV infection, Hepatitis B and C, severe blood poisoning, overdose, and other fatal complications.
“In Ogun State, we are committed to protecting our youths,” he said, urging those battling drug use to seek help at the Key Population One Stop Shop (KPOSS) health facility located at Kemta Idi-Aba, Abeokuta. The centre provides treatment, counselling, and support services for individuals dealing with substance abuse.
He encouraged young people to “choose life, choose health, and reject bluetoothing,” adding that collective efforts are needed to safeguard the next generation from avoidable harm.
The dangerous practice, also known internationally as “flashblood,” has been reported in countries such as South Africa, Tanzania, and Fiji, where health authorities have linked it to rising cases of HIV and other blood-borne infections.
Meanwhile, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), alongside community groups and the Pyrates Confraternity, recently intensified its sensitisation efforts with over 125 awareness campaigns across schools, worship centres, and communities, reaching more than 30,000 people.
The Ogun State Ministry of Sports Development has also teamed up with youth-focused NGOs, including the Drug Free Project, to leverage sports as a platform for drug awareness and rehabilitation.
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