Drug users in Fiji are indulging in a risky practice of preparing crystal methamphetamine with blood, a method known locally as ‘koda’.
A new World Health Organization report states the ‘koda’ method is considered by users to provide a stronger high although it carries significant health risks.
The process involves using blood instead of water to dissolve crystal meth for injection.
WHO researchers noted that whether prepared with water or blood, injecting crystal meth carried serious risks of HIV, hepatitis and other blood-borne infections.
The report stated the assessment provided critical insight into high-risk practices such as ‘koda’ and the urgent need for interventions to protect vulnerable communities from HIV and other health harms.
“Koda is like raw or as it is,” explained a 23-year-old meth user in the report, describing the process of using blood instead of water to dissolve crystal MA for injection.
“People just say we go have some koda, like raw fish, but in drug terms, we use it dry.”
Participants described the method as time-critical, warning that the blood-drug mixture can clot if not injected quickly.
“I never used water, just my blood for melting it up. I started to inject myself with it. I like to do it three or four times to suck the blood out to melt the meth,” said a 29-year-old female sex worker in the report.
Another participant, Josefa, 22, explained the perceived benefit: “Dry because it’s mixed manually. If we mix it with blood, it will be for you to wake up for a longer time.”
WHO researchers noted that whether prepared with water or blood, injecting crystal MA carries serious risks of HIV, hepatitis, and other blood-borne infections.
“This assessment provides critical insight into high-risk practices such as koda and the urgent need for interventions to protect vulnerable communities from HIV and other health harms,” the report states.
