How can people who inject drugs protect themselves and others from HIV?
A person who uses injection drugs should get counseling to help them stop using injecting drugs and enter and complete treatment for substance abuse treatment. If a person cannot or will not stop using injection drugs, they should do the following things to help protect themselves and others from HIV: Use a new, sterile syringe to prepare and inject drugs everytime they use Never share syringes, water, or drug preparation equipment with anyone or use these things more than once Only use syringes that came from a reliable source (a pharmacy or needle exchange program) Use your own sterile water to prepare drugs OR use clean water that came from a reliable source (i.e., tap water) and mix with bleach Before injecting drugs, clean the injection site with a new alcohol swab Safely throw away syringes after you have used them once If you do share your drug preparation equipment, boil them in water or clean them with bleach before using them again Strap up!
