Safer drug use

HIV and other blood-borne viruses can be transmitted via unsafe injecting practices. These unsafe practices include sharing injecting equipment such as water, spoons and filters, but the most important risk comes from sharing needles and syringes.

Safer injecting will:

• Protect IDUs from HIV.
• Protect IDUs from other infections such as hepatitis.
• Help protect IDUs from dirty hits (contaminated drugs).
• Help protect IDUs from other damage such as abscesses, septicaemia or collapsed veins.

If an IDU is unable or unwilling to stop injecting, they should:

• Ideally, use a new, sterile syringe obtained from a reliable source to prepare and divide drugs for each injection. People planning to inject should try to work out how many needles and syringes they think they will need and get hold of them in advance.
• If they don’t have access to new, sterile syringes, thoroughly clean the needle and syringe using the technique described below.
• Never share needles and syringes without thoroughly cleaning them.
• Never share other injecting equipment without cleaning it.
• Never share filters.
• Use sterile water to prepare drugs each time, or at least clean water from a reliable source.
• Keep everything as clean as possible when injecting.
• Ensure that neither the drugs nor any part of the injecting equipment have been in contact with anyone else’s needle or syringe, mixing water, spoon or filter.

A cleaned syringe is not as safe as a new, sterile syringe. However, disinfection with bleach does reduce the risk of transmission if a new syringe is not available.

An important part of safer injecting is for the IDU to have their own spoon and mixing water cup (and to ensure they never let anyone else use them). They should wash them before and after use – preferably in boiling water.

Using other people’s filters is dangerous because they often come into direct contact with used needles and they are moist and warm – which is an ideal environment for both viruses and bacteria. They are a medium where HIV and hepatitis can survive for long periods of time.

It is recognised that cleanliness and good hygiene can help reduce an IDU's risk of getting or transmitting HIV or viral hepatitis. Good hygiene can also help prevent sores and bacterial infections in the skin where IDUs inject. The following tips are an important part of the prevention message to IDUs who continue to inject:

• Wash your hands and arms before preparing to inject.
• Use a clean surface to prepare drugs for injection, or spread out a piece of clean paper.
• Use an alcohol pad to clean the skin where you're going to inject.
• After injecting, use a gauze pad to stop the bleeding.
• Put a bandage on the place where you injected.
• Throw away the used alcohol pad and gauze, and all the other drug preparation equipment.
• Clean anything else blood might have touched (such as the tourniquet, your injecting space, or your clothes).
• Safely dispose of the syringe.
• Wash your hands again to clean off dirt, blood, and viruses.¹