Reducing risks if you snort, smoke or inject drugs

There are higher risks of infections and other damage if you:

• snort drugs
• use pipes to smoke drugs
• inject drugs

Find out how to reduce your risk if you use drugs in these ways.

Vaccinations and testing

Sharing any equipment to take drugs increases the risk of getting blood-to-blood infections such as HIV and types of hepatitis.

If you have ever shared equipment to take drugs, consider getting tested for HIV and types of hepatitis.

If you often inject drugs, consider:

• checking if you are vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B
• regular testing for hepatitis C and HIV

You can get free vaccinations, tests and treatment through our STI services. You can also order free STI test kits to do at home.

Hepatitis C - testing and diagnosis

Free home STI testing - sh24.ie

Safer snorting

Snorting drugs is linked with nose problems and infections. For example, hepatitis C. Infections can happen if you share snorting equipment or snort from a contaminated surface.

To protect yourself and others:

• clean the surface you use with soap and water or an alcohol wipe - do not snort from surfaces such as toilet seats or phones
• use a clean straw or metal tube - do not use banknotes
• do not share any equipment to snort drugs
• make sure the powder is crushed as finely as possible
• switch nostrils after each use
• rinse your nose afterwards - you can use a few drops of clean water or a saline spray that you can buy in a pharmacy

Not all powders are suitable for snorting. Plan how to take your powder in advance.

Safer smoking

Using pipes to smoke drugs is linked with burns, lung damage and infections such as hepatitis C. Infections can happen if you share pipes.

To reduce the risks to yourself and others:

• get sterile pipes from a drug service
• do not use plastic bottles or cans to make a pipe - they can melt, break and create toxic fumes
• try to not hold the smoke in your lungs for a long time
• use your own pipe and avoid sharing pipes
• make sure the pipe is cool before you use it
• hold the pipe in the middle and not at the top
• do not use metal scouring pads as gauze for a pipe - they can cause dangerous burns and damage your lungs
• check your lips for cuts, blisters or sores after smoking - lip balm can help sore lips
• do first aid for any minor burns - run cool water over the burn for 20 minutes

Safer injecting

Injecting drugs is linked with overdose, skin infections, vein damage and blood-to-blood infections. Injecting is sometimes called slamming.

Needle exchange

Needle exchange services welcome people who want sterile injecting equipment.

The service is free and confidential. The staff will only ask for your initials and year of birth.

If you go to a pharmacy exchange, ask the staff if you can talk in private. They may bring you into a separate area. Tell them that you want needles for injecting.

They can give you injecting packs, an information leaflet and condoms.

Injecting packs (works) can include:

• needles
• citric acid
• sterile water
• syringes (barrel)
• spoons
• filters
• tourniquets
• alcohol wipes

Our drugs helpline can tell you where to find an exchange near you.

Before you inject

Before you inject:

• get sterile works and a sharps bin from a needle exchange
• get enough equipment so you do not have to reuse - you may need more equipment if you inject stimulants
• do not share needles or works with anyone
• plan ahead so you do not have to use alone
• boil water and let it cool if you do not have sterile water
• do not use lemon juice or vinegar instead of citric - they can cause infections and kidney damage
• divide drugs before you cook up - do not share between syringes (frontloading or backloading)
• consider other ways of using for tablets - tablets often contain chemicals that can damage your veins if you inject them

If you are in Dublin, consider going to a supervised injecting facility.

If you inject opioids, get and carry medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose (naloxone).

Getting naloxone

When you inject

When you inject:

• clean your hands and the injection site with soap and water or use an alcohol wipe
• do not lick the needle
• do not let someone else inject you
• always use a new and sterile needle
• use the smallest amount of citric possible - if the drug does not break down, do not inject it
• use a different injection site each time
• inject and remove the needle slowly

If you see bright red blood in the syringe or feel pressure against the plunger:

1. Apply pressure for 15 minutes and raise the affected arm or leg.
2. Get medical help.