Infectious Diseases, Opioids and Injection Drug Use in Persons Who Inject Drugs

Gerstein (1976) also distinguishes between different types of IV drug users, ranging from the hard-core “strung-out” users who inject frequently to situational users who inject only occasionally. Now, innovative approaches and carefully planned variations of intervention strategies, accompanied by sound evaluation, are the order of the day. Despite major gaps in current knowledge and understanding of drug use and the limitations imposed by imperfect methods for gathering data, the committee finds that considerable valuable information has already been acquired.

Rates of needle sharing among injecting drug users have declined during the 21st Century, leading to a decrease in viral infections from this transmission method. The smaller gauge needle you use, the smaller the puncture wound, and therefore the less opportunity for infection to occur. Intramuscular injections must be given with larger gauge needles (frequently 21G or 23G), and certain substances such as injectable steroids and hormones can only be administered intramuscularly. Intravenous injectors typically use needles no larger than 25G, and whenever possible, needle gauge should be matched to the size of the vein into which you’re injecting. If you’re using small, delicate veins like those in the hands, for instance, a thinner needle such as a 28G is the safest choice. In the past decade, NSEP and MAT have succeeded in reducing the rate of HIV infection;
meanwhile, there is strong evidence that HAART is effective in reducing HIV transmission
rates and prolonging life59.

What is Intravenous Drug Use (IV Drug Use)?

This leaves a dark, sooty residue at the injection site, referred to as a “sooting tattoo.” The article asserts that some people will actually get an inked tattoo to cover this up. People who inject IV drugs are at risk for many illnesses, the most common being hepatitis and HIV. Each time they inject a drug, they increase their risk of contracting infections and developing sepsis, whether they use these drugs occasionally or they are addicted to them. This is therefore a variant of the common method of injection with a dropper with the hypodermic needle affixed, using a “collar” made of paper or other material to create a seal between the needle and dropper. Removing part of the plunger assembly by cutting off most of the shaft and thumb rest and affixing the bulb to the end of the barrel, thereby allowing the bulb to operate the plunger by suction, also does work in many cases.

• Heroin was the dominant injected drug a few years ago, but today, IV drug users may also inject cocaine, heroin and cocaine in combination, or a variety of other drugs, including amphetamines (Black et al., 1986).
• Injecting a drug allows it to enter the bloodstream immediately, which increases the speed of delivery to the brain.
• Methadone is an oral solution that doesn’t affect the same way as heroin but helps block opioid receptors from consuming other opioids.
• Left untreated, endocarditis can damage or destroy heart valves and can lead to life-threatening complications.

Of all the ways to ingest drugs, injection carries the most risks by far as it bypasses the body’s natural filtering mechanisms against viruses, bacteria, and foreign objects. There will always be much less risk of overdose, disease, infections, and health problems with alternatives to injecting, such as smoking, insufflation (snorting or nasal ingestion), or swallowing. IV drugs are injected directly into the bloodstream with a sterile syringe and hypodermic needle through veins. This is different from intramuscular injections, which are delivered directly into the muscle.

Health risks

Male “running buddies” may share needles and the same women in serial sexual relationships. Skin-poppers should follow all of the infection control and other safety precautions that intravenous and intramuscular injectors should follow. Although like with muscle-popping, skin-popping results in little or no bleeding at the site of the injection, the risk for bacterial or viral infection is real if injection equipment is shared or drugs are not prepared and injected hygienically. Also, skin-poppers are at greatly increased risk for abscesses, especially if injecting crushed pills or another solution with particles in it. When skin-popping, it is critical to use only a solution that is as particle-free as possible. Some drugs, including injectable steroids and hormones, must be injected into a muscle instead of a vein, but heroin and other opiates can also be administered using this method.

His articles impress with unique research work as well as field-tested skills. He is a freelance medical writer specializing in creating content to improve public awareness of health topics. Although many drug addicts are drawn to the intense high promised by IV drug use, few completely understand the potential dangers of this behavior.

Recreational drugs

Please scroll to the bottom of the IV Drug Abuse Facts Infographic to Verify Sources and Citations. Please note that some data provided is correlated to a certain time frame or specific group of study subjects or individuals. Therefore, careful review of the citations listed is necessary in order to fully understand U.S. People injecting Intravenously usually need something to “ tie off ” with that will restrict blood flow and cause the veins to bulge out, making them more accessible for injection.

• In a study that matched women on age, ethnicity, and marital status, Ralph and Spigner (1986) noted that contraception was less frequent among female addicts than among nonaddicted women.
• The use of intravenous opioids is linked to a higher risk to the individual developing a substance abuse problem than people who misuse drugs in other ways.
• It is difficult to assess the impact of these behavioral changes on stemming the spread of HIV.
• For this reason, physical therapists have the opportunity to build trust in the therapist-patient relationship.
• Lastly, don’t re-cook a shot with a lot of blood in it as the blood can coagulate and clog your needle.

Try to make yourself available to other people who use drugs who may need support. If you’re worried that a friend may overdose, for instance, have them check in with you by phone after they get high to make sure everything is okay. And finally, avoid using with people you don’t like or who couldn’t care less about what happens to you if you were to overdose. Ben Lesser is one of the most sought-after experts in health, fitness and medicine.

Beyond just needle exchange programs, the other major harm reduction strategy for drug users are safe injecting facilities (SIFs). These provide a sterile environment for people who inject drugs to do so cleanly, and with sterile syringes which are forced to be thrown away after use so that no re-use occurs. The first of these facilities opened in Switzerland, but there are now over 100 globally including one in Vancouver – Canada, Sydney – Australia, and most recently, Melbourne – Australia. A new approach to reduce harm to https://ecosoberhouse.com/rs was recently started in Southern Nevada in 2017. In an effort to reduce the spread of blood borne pathogens, Southern Nevada installed vending machines to give access to sterile needles to those using them for drug injections. Individuals who use these vending machines are required to register with Trac-B and are allowed 2 boxes a week.

In general, but not always, indoor locations are safer than outdoor ones, and definitely preferable in terms of wind and weather. The possible side effects include depression, irritability, anger, anxiety, heightened risk-taking behavior, violence, inability to feel pleasure, hallucinations, impaired comprehension, and judgment. Several things can arise due to repeated substance abuse, such as heart problems, respiratory issues, liver and kidney problems, seizures, collapsed veins, insomnia, fatigue and a compromised immune system, among others. Wrong IV Drug user is at greater risk of death from a life-threatening overdose if he or she misuses an IV and contracting infectious diseases like HIV, which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), which currently has no cure. AIDS cases in the United States were attributed to injected drug use, according to UCSF’s Center for AIDS Prevention Studies. These data exclude individuals who report both IV drug use and homosexual behavior.

Once you think you’re in a vein, pull the plunger back to see if blood comes into the syringe. If so, and the blood is dark red and slow moving, you know that you’ve hit a vein. If no blood or only a very tiny amount of blood comes into the syringe when you pull back, you’re not in a vein and will have to untie your tourniquet, pull your needle out, and try again. If you proceed to inject without being properly positioned https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/iv-drug-use-and-potential-complications/ in a vein, you’ll be putting your drugs into the tissue surrounding the vein, under the skin, or some other place. It will probably be painful and become swollen, and the effects of your drugs will come on much more slowly. People who inject drugs often have one or two favorite places to inject—sites that feel the most comfortable, are easy to access, and where you almost always get a clean hit on your first try.

“Sharing” can also be understood differently by researchers and respondents. There are several ways in which IV drug users can use the same injection equipment and not think of themselves as sharing. First, a drug user may purchase or rent equipment that has already been used by another IV drug user. Because the identity of the previous user is not known, because there is money involved, and because considerable time may have elapsed between the first and second use, a drug user may not consider this type of multiple use to be sharing. If the injection equipment is new or sterilized, the first person using it is not at risk for HIV infection because it has not yet been shared; who goes first in the multiple use of injection equipment complicates the definition of sharing.