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Safer injection guide: Difference between revisions
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Substances are typically either injected directly into the bloodstream via their veins (a practice known as intravenous or ''I.V. injection'') or into the muscle tissue (known as intramuscular or ''I.M. injection''). More rarely, substances are injected in the flesh right under one's outer layer of skin (known as subcutaneous or ''S.C. injection''), which is referred to as "skin popping" in street drug circles.<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/skin-popping|Skin-popping - definition of skin-popping by the Free Dictionary</ref> | Substances are typically either injected directly into the bloodstream via their veins (a practice known as intravenous or ''I.V. injection'') or into the muscle tissue (known as intramuscular or ''I.M. injection''). More rarely, substances are injected in the flesh right under one's outer layer of skin (known as subcutaneous or ''S.C. injection''), which is referred to as "skin popping" in street drug circles.<ref>http://www.thefreedictionary.com/skin-popping|Skin-popping - definition of skin-popping by the Free Dictionary</ref> | ||
[[File:ROA.jpg| | [[File:ROA.jpg|480px|thumb|right|A diagram showing the different angles needed for different types of injections.]] | ||
==Risks and hazards== | ==Risks and hazards== | ||
* ''' 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 | * ''' 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 substances are not passing any membrane for filtration and '''any''' impurity in the substance will be directly introduced into the body.<ref>http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/279/3/1345.short</ref> | ||
* ''' 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 easily spread illness and 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 easily spread illness and disease. Sharing the same spoons and other equipment used to prepare the injection solution is also a way to contract a blood-borne disease. | ||
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* ''' Re-using needles ''' - Reusing needles is not advised for some 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. | * ''' Re-using needles ''' - Reusing needles is not advised for some 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. | ||
* ''' Abscessed infections ''' - An abscessed infection is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body at or underneath an administration site that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. If one | * ''' Abscessed infections ''' - An abscessed infection is a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body at or underneath an administration site that is usually caused by a bacterial infection. If one notices an abscess forming following an injection it is imperative that they <span style="color:red"><b>seek professional medical help immediately</b></span> as abscessed infections can lead to severe health complications and not uncommonly, death. | ||
*'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - Some substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue in order to be effective. This can inform which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] has been shown to work "best" when IV'd and can be extremely harmful when injected into the subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important that one makes sure they are 'in a vein' before proceeding with the injection. | *'''Injecting into the wrong tissue''' - Some substances need to be injected into certain types of tissue in order to be effective. This can inform which injection method should be used. For example, [[heroin]] has been shown to work "best" when IV'd and can be extremely harmful when injected into the subcutaneous tissue. This is why it is so important that one makes sure they are 'in a vein' before proceeding with the injection. | ||
*'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with substances like [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bioavailability and time to peak blood plasma levels (i.e. "rushiness") of the | *'''Increased withdrawal effects''' - This can be experienced with substances like [[opiates]], such as [[heroin]]. The higher bioavailability and time to peak blood plasma levels (i.e. "rushiness") of the substance when it is injected -- along with increased [[Cognitive euphoria]] and [[Physical euphoria]] that accompanies it -- is thought to contribute substantially to compulsive use, addiction, [[withdrawal]], and persisting substance cravings long after cessation of use. | ||
*'''Intensified comedowns''' - Substances that have comedowns, such as [[stimulants]] and [[U-47700]], have a greatly exacerbated comedown when injected. This means that the symptoms of a comedown, such as [[depression]], [[anxiety]], [[restless leg syndrome]], [[cognitive fatigue]], and [[motivation suppression]] are worse and harder to deal with, which could lead to [[compulsive redosing]]. | *'''Intensified comedowns''' - Substances that have comedowns, such as [[stimulants]] and [[U-47700]], have a greatly exacerbated comedown when injected. This means that the symptoms of a comedown, such as [[depression]], [[anxiety]], [[restless leg syndrome]], [[cognitive fatigue]], and [[motivation suppression]] are worse and harder to deal with, which could lead to [[compulsive redosing]]. | ||
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* '''Sterile water''' - It is important to use deionized water or distilled water when injecting substances as 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 deionized water or distilled water when injecting substances as 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. | ||
* '''Micron filters''' - These are used to filter out solid impurities in the substance solution. A cotton filter is better than nothing, but a micron filter is considered to be the best. | |||
* '''A buddy!''' - If possible, do your best not to I.V./I.M. alone. Things can go wrong. The risk of overdose is significantly increased when injecting and having someone there to call the emergency services or give you medical aid can literally be the difference between life and death. | * '''A buddy!''' - If possible, do your best not to I.V./I.M. alone. Things can go wrong. The risk of overdose is significantly increased when injecting and having someone there to call the emergency services or give you medical aid can literally be the difference between life and death. | ||
==Procedure== | ==Procedure== | ||
In the interest of harm reduction, the use of any substance via I.V./I.M./S.C administration is not an advisable from a health and safety point of view. It should be noted that I.M. administration is more commonly found when using | In the interest of harm reduction, the use of any substance via I.V./I.M./S.C administration is not an advisable from a health and safety point of view. It should be noted that I.M. administration is more commonly found when using substances like [[ketamine]]. | ||
==== I.V. injection==== | ==== I.V. injection==== | ||
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#Hold the syringe barrel tightly and use your wrist to inject the needle through the skin and into the muscle at a 90-degree angle. | #Hold the syringe barrel tightly and use your wrist to inject the needle through the skin and into the muscle at a 90-degree angle. | ||
#Let go of the skin with your other hand. Hold the syringe so it stays pointed straight in. Pull back on the plunger a little to make sure you did not hit a blood vessel. The point of intramuscular injections is to inject within the muscle itself. '''If blood comes back, remove the needle immediately and do not inject.''' If possible, dispose of the needle and syringe and get a new one. When you give the second injection, use a different injection site than the first. | #Let go of the skin with your other hand. Hold the syringe so it stays pointed straight in. Pull back on the plunger a little to make sure you did not hit a blood vessel. The point of intramuscular injections is to inject within the muscle itself. '''If blood comes back, remove the needle immediately and do not inject.''' If possible, dispose of the needle and syringe and get a new one. When you give the second injection, use a different injection site than the first. | ||
#Push down on the plunger to inject the solution. Do not push the plunger down hard and fast, some | #Push down on the plunger to inject the solution. Do not push the plunger down hard and fast, some substance solutions may burn. Injecting at a slower rate reduces the pain. | ||
#Once the solution is injected, remove the needle at the same angle as it went in. Re-swab the area of injection with an alcohol swab. | #Once the solution is injected, remove the needle at the same angle as it went in. Re-swab the area of injection with an alcohol swab. | ||