What are the risks of injecting?
Many of the risks will depend upon the type of drug being injected, but some of the more general risks can include: • An increased possibility of overdose as the drug is being injected straight into the bloodstream and therefore reaches the brain much more quickly • Septacaemia and other infections as impurities are being introduced directly into the bloodstream • Hepatitis and HIV if sharing injecting equipment Some of these risks can be reduced by making sure you don’t share injecting equipment and that the equipment is clean. Making sure you are with someone who knows what you have taken may help and being in a safe place that you are familiar with. For info on needle exchanges see Drug and Alcohol Services.
