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Safer Injection

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  1. Supervised Injection Sites
    Needle exchange vs needle distribution?
  2. What are supervised injection sites?
  3. Will I get in trouble?
  4. What services are available?
  5. How does it work?
  6. Do I have to go to treatment if I use a SIS?
  7. Is all my information confidential?
  8. What is in it for me?
  9. Where can I access SISs?
  10. Drug Checking
    Why should I check my drugs?
  11. What is Fentanyl?
  12. Where can I check my drugs?
  13. What if I can't always get my drugs checked?
  14. Safer Injection
    What if I don't want to use an SIS?
  15. What if I only share needles with people I trust?
  16. How can I use safer with a group?
  17. What are the risks?
  18. How can I avoid getting an infection?
  19. How does withdrawal effect my ability to inject?
  20. What if I mix drugs?
  21. Things to keep in mind
  22. How do I inject in a safer way?
    How do you prepare before injecting?
  23. What if I’m crushing and adding water to my drugs?
  24. What are the different ways to inject?
  25. Where should I inject?
  26. How do I take care of my veins?
  27. Putting it all together
  28. Self Harm / Suicide
  29. FAQ
    Frequently Asked Questions

Activities

Safer Injection How can I avoid getting an infection?
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Lesson 18 of 29
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How can I avoid getting an infection?

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n addition to risks carried by needles and other heroin injection equipment, the way a person injects heroin can make them more vulnerable to infection or disease.

Avoid these risk factors:

  • Skin bacteria: Harmful bacteria on the skin may enter a person’s body or bloodstream through the injection site, leading to infection. Wash your hands!
  • An unclean injection site: Failing to clean the injection site properly or licking the skin to clean the site can increase the risk of infectioncausing bacteria or other microorganisms entering the injection site. Cleaning the skin prior to injection, such as with alcohol wipes, can reduce the threat of infection.
  • Injecting into a wound: When overcome by intense cravings, some people may inject into an open wound. This could carry bacteria into the body and cause further harm to a wound that is already battling an infection.
  • Changing the route of injection due to damaged veins: People who are struggling to inject heroin into their veins due to scarring or collapsed veins may switch to intramuscular injection or skin popping.