Mainline misery
Question
I take speed intravenously and recently injected with a used needle. I did wash the needle with boiling water before I used it, but now I'm worried that I could have contracted HIV or hepatitis C. Should I get checked out?
Answer
It can be a scary experience when you change your using routine. You're wise to find out what affect this injecting experience could have had on your health, but it's difficult to know whether you have contracted anything without knowing more about your medical history.
Injecting any drug puts your health at risk. You could take a higher dose than you intended and speed is often mixed with impurities you could end up injecting as well. You also run a much higher risk of infection and disease using drugs in this way. So it's really important to make sure you're as safe as you can be if you plan to continue injecting speed. It could help to talk to professional about safer injecting and alternatives to injecting.
Sharing needles and unclean injecting practices leaves you very much at risk of developing health problems, including HIV and hepatitis C. You should make it a priority to contact a local drug service for support about your concerns. It is important for you to have a full assessment of your injecting and to work with a key worker to make sure you're safe. These services also have nurses that give you in-depth advice about your specific situation. These services are available for free and they are confidential.
You can also contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for further advice from a nurse.
Updated: 12/04/2010
Question answered by Addaction
