Safer injection guide: Difference between revisions

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'''Injecting''' is the process of dissolving a compound in a liquid and placing the solution into ~~an syringe with~~ a needle for the purpose of self ~~injection~~. Substances can be injected through the veins by IV ~~injections and~~ into the muscle tissue by IM injection.

'''Injecting''' is the process of dissolving a compound in a liquid and placing the solution into a needle syringe for the purpose of self administration. Substances can be directly injected into the bloodstream through the veins (a practive known as IV injection) or into the muscle tissue (IM injection).

==Dangers==

* ''' ~~Infection~~ Risks ''' - ~~the~~ simple act of penetrating one's skin with anything is a way to introduce bacterium, viruses, etc directly into your body. Be as sterile as humanly possible! Use alcohol swabs to wipe the injection area before and after injection. There is also infection risk if one is injecting impure, adulterated, or unfiltered substances into their body. These drugs are not passing any membrane for filtration and '''any''' impurity in the drug will be directly introduced into the body.

* ''' Risks of infection ''' - The simple act of penetrating one's skin with anything is a way to introduce bacterium, viruses, etc directly into your body. Be as sterile as humanly possible! Use alcohol swabs to wipe the injection area before and after injection. There is also infection risk if one is injecting impure, adulterated, or unfiltered substances into their body. These drugs are not passing any membrane for filtration and '''any''' impurity in the drug will be directly introduced into the body.

* ''' Blood - borne ~~Diseases~~''' - Sharing needles with other users is the most obvious way to transmit a blood borne disease or infection, but there are other less commonly thought of ways too. Using multiple needles in the same water supply can spread disease. Sharing the same spoons and other equipment used to prepare the injection solution is also a way to contract a blood borne disease.

* ''' Blood-borne diseases''' - Sharing needles with other users is the most obvious way to transmit a blood borne disease or infection, but there are other less commonly thought of ways too. Using multiple needles in the same water supply can spread disease. Sharing the same spoons and other equipment used to prepare the injection solution is also a way to contract a blood borne disease.

* ''' Re-using needles ''' - Re-using needles is not ~~advisable~~. If upon injection you do not hit a vein, only retry with that same needle one more time IF NEEDED. It is always best to use fresh needles every time you inject.

* ''' Re-using needles ''' - Re-using needles is not advised for a number of medically relevant reasons. If upon injection you do not hit a vein, only retry with that same needle one more time IF NEEDED. It is always best to use fresh needles every time you inject.

* ''' Absessed ~~Infections~~ ''' - *SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY*

* ''' Absessed infections ''' - *SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY*

*'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - ~~some~~ substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue, and this affects which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] works best when IVd and can be extremely harmful when injected into subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important to make sure one is 'in a vein' before they inject themselves.

*'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - Some substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue, and this affects which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] works best when IVd and can be extremely harmful when injected into subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important to make sure one is 'in a vein' before they inject themselves.

*'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bio availability of the drug when injected and the increased [[Cognitive euphoria]] and [[Physical euphoria]] can contribute greatly to addiction, [[withdrawal]], and drug cravings.

*'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with substances like [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bio availability of the drug when injected and the increased [[Cognitive euphoria]] and [[Physical euphoria]] can contribute greatly to addiction, [[withdrawal]], and drug cravings.

==Materials==

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[[File:IM needle diagram.jpg|300px|thumb|right|An IM needle differs from an IV needle in length.]]

*''' Alcohol swabs" - ~~for~~ sterilization before and after injection

*''' Alcohol swabs" - For sterilization before and after injection.

* '''Sterile water''' - it is important to use de-ionized water or distilled water to inject with. Tap water may contain harmful impurities. It is also important to change the water at a regular interval to prevent bacteria growth within the water. Placing a small amount (10ml max) in a shot glass and using this for IV/IM purposes is a good way to ensure a fresh water supply.

* '''Sterile water''' - It is important to use de-ionized water or distilled water to inject with. Tap water may contain harmful impurities. It is also important to change the water at a regular interval to prevent bacteria growth within the water. Placing a small amount (10ml max) in a shot glass and using this for IV/IM purposes is a good way to ensure a fresh water supply.

* '''A buddy!''' - If possible, try not to IV/IM alone. Things can go wrong. Overdose risk is highly increased when injecting and having someone there to call 911 or give you medical aid can be the difference between life and death.

* '''Micron filters''' - ~~these~~ are used to filter out physical impurities in the drug solution. A cotton filter is better than nothing, but a micron filter is the best.

* '''Micron filters''' - These are used to filter out physical impurities in the drug solution. A cotton filter is better than nothing, but a micron filter is the best.

==Procedure==

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*[[Responsible use]]

*[[Preparation]]

*[[Routes of administration]]

==External links==

*[http://harmreduction.org/drugs-and-drug-users/drug-tools/getting-off-right/ Getting Off Right Safety Manual (harmreduction.org)]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Disclaimer}}
-'''Injecting''' is the process of dissolving a compound in a liquid and placing the solution into an syringe with a needle for the purpose of self injection. Substances can be injected through the veins by IV injections and into the muscle tissue by IM injection.
+'''Injecting''' is the process of dissolving a compound in a liquid and placing the solution into a needle syringe for the purpose of self administration. Substances can be directly injected into the bloodstream through the veins (a practive known as IV injection) or into the muscle tissue (IM injection).
 ==Dangers==
-* ''' Infection Risks ''' - the simple act of penetrating one's skin with anything is a way to introduce bacterium, viruses, etc directly into your body. Be as sterile as humanly possible! Use alcohol swabs to wipe the injection area before and after injection. There is also infection risk if one is injecting impure, adulterated, or unfiltered substances into their body. These drugs are not passing any membrane for filtration and '''any''' impurity in the drug will be directly introduced into the body.
+* ''' Risks of infection ''' - The simple act of penetrating one's skin with anything is a way to introduce bacterium, viruses, etc directly into your body. Be as sterile as humanly possible! Use alcohol swabs to wipe the injection area before and after injection. There is also infection risk if one is injecting impure, adulterated, or unfiltered substances into their body. These drugs are not passing any membrane for filtration and '''any''' impurity in the drug will be directly introduced into the body.
-* ''' Blood - borne Diseases''' - Sharing needles with other users is the most obvious way to transmit a blood borne disease or infection, but there are other less commonly thought of ways too. Using multiple needles in the same water supply can spread disease. Sharing the same spoons and other equipment used to prepare the injection solution is also a way to contract a blood borne disease.
+* ''' Blood-borne diseases''' - Sharing needles with other users is the most obvious way to transmit a blood borne disease or infection, but there are other less commonly thought of ways too. Using multiple needles in the same water supply can spread disease. Sharing the same spoons and other equipment used to prepare the injection solution is also a way to contract a blood borne disease.
-* ''' Re-using needles ''' - Re-using needles is not advisable. If upon injection you do not hit a vein, only retry with that same needle one more time IF NEEDED. It is always best to use fresh needles every time you inject.
+* ''' Re-using needles ''' - Re-using needles is not advised for a number of medically relevant reasons. If upon injection you do not hit a vein, only retry with that same needle one more time IF NEEDED. It is always best to use fresh needles every time you inject.
-* ''' Absessed Infections ''' - *SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY*
+* ''' Absessed infections ''' - *SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY*
-*'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - some substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue, and this affects which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] works best when IVd and can be extremely harmful when injected into subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important to make sure one is 'in a vein' before they inject themselves.
+*'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - Some substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue, and this affects which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] works best when IVd and can be extremely harmful when injected into subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important to make sure one is 'in a vein' before they inject themselves.
-*'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bio availability of the drug when injected and the increased [[Cognitive euphoria]] and [[Physical euphoria]] can contribute greatly to addiction, [[withdrawal]], and drug cravings.
+*'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with substances like [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bio availability of the drug when injected and the increased [[Cognitive euphoria]] and [[Physical euphoria]] can contribute greatly to addiction, [[withdrawal]], and drug cravings.
 ==Materials==
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[File:IM needle diagram.jpg|300px|thumb|right|An IM needle differs from an IV needle in length.]]
-*''' Alcohol swabs" - for sterilization before and after injection
+*''' Alcohol swabs" - For sterilization before and after injection.
-* '''Sterile water''' - it is important to use de-ionized water or distilled water to inject with. Tap water may contain harmful impurities. It is also important to change the water at a regular interval to prevent bacteria growth within the water. Placing a small amount (10ml max) in a shot glass and using this for IV/IM purposes is a good way to ensure a fresh water supply.
+* '''Sterile water''' - It is important to use de-ionized water or distilled water to inject with. Tap water may contain harmful impurities. It is also important to change the water at a regular interval to prevent bacteria growth within the water. Placing a small amount (10ml max) in a shot glass and using this for IV/IM purposes is a good way to ensure a fresh water supply.
 * '''A buddy!''' - If possible, try not to IV/IM alone. Things can go wrong. Overdose risk is highly increased when injecting and having someone there to call 911 or give you medical aid can be the difference between life and death.
-* '''Micron filters''' - these are used to filter out physical impurities in the drug solution. A cotton filter is better than nothing, but a micron filter is the best.
+* '''Micron filters''' - These are used to filter out physical impurities in the drug solution. A cotton filter is better than nothing, but a micron filter is the best.
 ==Procedure==
@@ Line 49: / Line 49: @@
 *[[Responsible use]]
 *[[Preparation]]
+*[[Routes of administration]]
 ==External links==
 *[http://harmreduction.org/drugs-and-drug-users/drug-tools/getting-off-right/ Getting Off Right Safety Manual (harmreduction.org)]