SAFER INJECTING

Injecting drugs intravenously is the fastest and most efficient way of getting drugs into your body but it is also the most dangerous way to administer a drug. Some of the major risks of injecting include:

• Contracting a blood borne virus: including hepatitis C & B and HIV
• Overdose
• Vein damage: such as collapsed veins, bruising & scarring
• Dirty hits: caused from dirt & bacteria in the mix
• Bacterial infections: septicema (blood poisoning), abscesses & endocarditis (inflammation of the heart valve)
• Damage to the circulatory system
• Dependence

There are many less risky ways to take drugs such as: swallowing, smoking, snorting and shafting

If you do choose to inject there are a number of safer injecting practices that can help you to minimise these risks.

Safer injecting practices include:

• Choose a clean and uncluttered surface to inject, with running water (if possible)
• Always use new, sterile injecting equipment for every injection and never share needles and syringes, water, spoons, tourniquets, filters or swabs.
• Use a new filter every time you inject (wheel filters are available from your local NSP)
• Wash spoons with hot soapy water before and after every injection (or use alcohol swabs as an alternative).
• Wash spoons with hot soapy water before and after injecting
• Dispose of your equipment safely (sharps disposal bins are available from you local NSP).

Following safer injecting practices every time you inject will not only help you to keep your veins in good condition but will also lessen your chance of getting blood borne viruses, such as hep C and HIV.