What Is ‘bluetoothing’ Or ‘hotspotting’ — And How The Dangerous Trend Is Fueling New HIV Infections

Talk about bad blood. Health experts are sounding the alarm over a disturbing trend where drug users swap blood to score a secondhand high. Called “bluetoothing,” the gruesome movement is fueling a wave of new HIV infections in hotspots around the globe, including Fiji and South Africa.  😯

Doctors are warning that the surge in cases is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the risks tied to this dangerous practice — also known as “hotspotting.” It’s a risky street practice that involves injecting a powerful drug — like heroin or meth — then drawing a small amount of drug-laced blood back into a syringe and injecting it into someone else to share the high.

The process is repeated from one person to the next, often using the same needle.