Why is injection drug use a high-risk activity for HIV infection?
Small amounts of blood from a person infected with HIV may stay in the “works” used to inject drugs (needles, syringes, cotton, cookers, water or other equipment) and can be injected into the bloodstream of the next person who uses the equipment. Any drug injection activity where equipment is shared with person who has HIV or whose HIV status is unknown is high- risk. This includes injecting drugs into veins (IV), in the muscles or under the skin. Used needles and works may also be packaged as new and sold on the street and can transmit HIV if someone with HIV used them.
Small amounts of blood from a person infected with HIV may stay in the “works” used to inject drugs (needles, syringes, cotton, cookers, water and other equipment) and can be injected into the bloodstream of the next person who uses the equipment. Any drug injection activity where equipment is shared with a person who has HIV or whose HIV status is unknown is high risk. This includes injecting drugs into the veins (IV), in the muscles or under the skin. Used needles and works may also be packaged as new and sold on the street and can transmit HIV if someone with HIV used them.
