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SAFER  INJECTION 
PRACTICES

If you inject drugs, there are important steps you can take to protect your health and reduce risks associated with drug use, including overdose, vein damage, and infections.


Visit your local QuIHN Needle and Syringe Program for free sterile equipment and safer injecting education.

PREPARATION

Choosing the right environment is crucial. Ensure that the space where you prepare and inject is as clean, safe, and well-lit as possible, ideally with access to running water. This helps minimise the risk of bacteria, viruses, or other microbes entering your bloodstream when injecting.

Steps for safer preparation:

  1. Thoroughly clean the area of your skin where you plan to inject. Alcohol swabs or pads work well for this.
  2. Wipe in one direction to effectively remove dirt and germs, then wait 30 seconds for the skin to dry before injecting.
  3. Use spray and wipe or soapy water to clean the surfaces where you prepare your drugs. This will help remove dirt, bacteria, and viruses from the environment.
  4. Never reuse needles or other equipment, and always inject yourself if possible. Sharing or reusing equipment increases the risk of infections like hepatitis C and HIV.

MIXING YOUR DRUGS

When mixing your drugs, cleanliness is key to reducing harm.

Follow these steps:

  1. Clean your equipment: Use a clean swab to wipe your spoon in one direction to avoid spreading germs.
  2. Start with a test dose: If you’re unsure about the quality of the drugs, start with a small amount.
  3. Avoid sharing equipment: If you’re mixing drugs in a group, ensure that everyone uses their own sterile needles and syringes. Mark your equipment to avoid confusion.
  4. Use clean water: Sterile water is best, but if unavailable, boiled water that has cooled down can be used. Bottled water may not always be sterile.
  5. Use a filter: Draw your mixture through a filter to remove any particles. Wheel filters are recommended as they provide better filtration.

INJECTING SAFELY

Taking care when injecting can help avoid unnecessary injury or damage. Here are the steps for safe injecting:

  1. Use a tourniquet properly. Place a clean tourniquet around your upper arm or above the injection site to locate veins more easily. Avoid using shoelaces or belts, as they can cause vein twisting.
  2. Insert the needle correctly. Insert the needle at a 45-degree angle with the hole facing up and towards the heart. Blood should appear in the syringe when the needle is correctly placed in the vein.
  3. Loosen the tourniquet. Once you’re sure the needle is in the vein, loosen the tourniquet and inject the drugs slowly.
  4. Remove the needle carefully. After injecting, remove the needle slowly and apply pressure to the site for a couple of minutes to stop any bleeding.

CLEANING UP

Proper disposal and cleaning after injecting are critical for preventing accidents and maintaining a safe environment.

Proper Disposal tips:

  • Place needles and syringes in a sharps disposal container. If you don’t have one, use a childproof, puncture-proof container.
  • Take full containers to a needle and syringe program for proper disposal.
  • Put swabs, filters, and ampoules in a sealed plastic bag before placing them in the rubbish bin.
  • Use spray and wipe or soapy water to clean up any spills or blood from surfaces.
  • Use soap and warm water to clean your hands after injecting. If you can’t wash them, use new swabs to wipe your hands in one direction.

WHEN TO GET HELP 

Knowing when to seek medical assistance is essential for your safety.

Seek medical help if:

  • The area around the injection site becomes raised, red, hot, or painful, as this could indicate infection.
  • You’ve been pricked by someone else’s used needle. Go to your doctor or hospital as soon as possible.
  • You experience painful, heavy, swollen, or numb limbs, which could be a sign of Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT).
  • You’ve hit an artery, and bleeding lasts more than five minutes, or your arm or leg becomes white, cold, or numb.

For more information or to get free sterile injecting equipment, visit your local QuIHN Needle and Syringe Program or contact us about our postal service for sterile equipment delivery. You can also click here to find your nearest Needle and Syringe Program location.