By ABIODUN LAWAL

To curb the use of illicit drugs, the Ogun State Government has warned young people in the state to refrain from the dangerous practice known as ?bluetoothing.?

Dr Kehinde Fatungase, Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA), gave the warning in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Fatungase described it as a deadly practice in which people inject themselves with the blood of others who have just taken drugs to replicate the effect of the drug they took, believing they can ?share the high.?

According to him, bluetoothing remains a deadly trend which not only exposes participants to life threatening diseases but also undermine public health efforts aimed at reducing widespread blood-borne infections.

He noted that the practice, which is extremely dangerous could put young people?s lives at risk of HIV infection, Hepatitis B and C, severe blood infections and life-threatening reactions as well as overdose.

?In Ogun state, we are committed to protecting our youths.

?If you or someone you know is struggling with drug use, help is available at our Key Population One Stop Shop (KPOSS) health facility at 4 Kemta Idi Aba, Abeokuta, for treatment and counselling services.

?We encourage our youths to choose life, choose health, choose future, say no to bluetoothing and encourage friends to stay safe. Together, we can prevent HIV and safeguard the next generation,? he said. (NAN)

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