Safer Injecting
Name 5 Harm Reduction Supplies used in Injecting Drugs
Rigs/needles, tourniquet, cooker, water, alcohol swab, vitamin C, baking soda
What are 3 examples of materials used for smoking substance before harm reduction supplies were available?
pop cans, apples, glass eye droppers, medicine bottles, lightbulbs
What are the dangers of mixing other substances with alcohol
Mixing a depressant with alcohol can increase overdose risk as alcohol is a depressant
Why should you use new harm reduction supplies each time you use substances?
1. needle gets dull
2. using prevents getting injections
3. prevents transmission of disease
4. knowing exactly what is in your gear ( eg using a pipe that may of opioids in it by accident)
What is the difference between Veins & Arteries.
Bonus: Which one do you inject in?
Arteries : carry oxygenated blood from the heart to extremities
Veins: Carry deoxygenated blood from the extremities back to the heart.
USE VEINS!!!
What are 3 different ways to help find a vein
Pump up veins ( clenching fist, doing pushups), warm/hot water on skin, be in a warm area, use tourniquet ( blue one or improv version)
What is the difference between a straight pipe, bubble pipe and hammer pipe?
straight pipe: straight, used for crack, opioids, snorting
bubble pipe: has a bubble on the end, used for meth and opioids
hammer pipe: looks like a glass hammer, used for opioids
How does alcohol affect your body in the cold?
Alcohol increases blood vessel dilation, leading to an increase in heat loss which can be dangerous on cold weather.
Name 3 types of difference infections/diseases you can get with injecting substances
Cotton Fever (Septicemia)
Swollen Skin (Cellulitis) and Swollen Connective Tissue
Heart Infection (Endocarditis)
Skin Infections (Abscesses)
Bone Infections (Osteomyelitis)
Blood Clots and Embolisms
Sepsis
HIV
Hepatitis B and C
What are the 3 danger zones for injecting?
Neck, Inside of wrist, groin
What are 2 ways to keep your veins healthy
1. use different sites/veins
2. alcohol swab/ wash area before injecting
3. Use filter to reduce impurities in substances
Why is brillo not part of harm reduction supplies?
Brillo break off easiliy and can get inhaled into your lungs, chemical on brillo that you may inhale
List 2 ways to make alcohol use safer.
eating before drinking, staying hydrated, not drinking alone
What are signs of an infection?
redness, swelling, heat, pus, red line going towards heart from infection
How does snorting substance affect your nose?
Holes in nostrils, nasal drip, nasal damage affect breathing
What is doctoring and what are the pros/cons of it?
Doctoring is when someone helps you inject
Pros: If you trust them, they might be better at it than you. If you are new to injecting can prevent injury if the other person is skilled
Cons: If person in not trustworthy they could switch gear, pushing too much drugs without consent, become dependant on an person to use substances
What are ways to keep your nose healthy when snorting?
Rinse nose with water, rotate the use of nostrils, make sure you crush pills well
Daily alcohol use can affects your bodies ability to absorbs vitamins, specifically this type of vitamin.
Bonus: what is something you can do to combat this side effect?
B Vitamins ( thiamine, folate, B12)
Bonus: take a multivitamin, eat diet of whole grains, fish, beans/legumes
What drug causes the most dangerous withdrawal?
Alcohol
Rank the following methods from quickest to slowest delivery of substance:
Oral consumption, smoking, injection, snorting
1.Smoking
2. Injecting
3. snorting
4. oral