Safer injecting

General safety tips

• Use sterile equipment every time: needles, syringes, spoons, filters and sterile water should all be new for each use. Sharing or reusing equipment increases your risk of infection.
• Prepare carefully: wash your hands, clean the area you have your equipment on, and swab the injection site with an alcohol wipe before injecting.
• Rotate sites: injecting into the same site repeatedly increases the chance of vein collapse, scarring and infection. Rotating (changing the spot where you inject) helps preserve your long-term vein health.
• Be mindful of your environment: choose a calm, well-lit space where you feel safe. Rushing or using in unsafe environments can increase mistakes and injuries.
• Start small and use reagent testing kits: drug strength and contents vary. Reagent testing kits are available online or via your local NSP. If you’re not able to test your batch, a test shot can reduce your risk of overdose.
• Be aware of mixing risks: combining opioids with alcohol, benzos or other depressants significantly increases your risk of overdose.
• Don’t inject alone if possible: having someone nearby who can call for help and carrying naloxone if using opioids can be lifesaving.

Caring for your body

• Protect your veins: rotate injection sites and avoid veins that are sore, bruised or inflamed. Give damaged veins time to heal.
• Aftercare: apply gentle pressure with clean cotton or gauze after injecting to stop bleeding. Wait until wounds are closed before applying creams.
• Managing missed hits: if you miss a vein, you may get swelling or pain. Warm compresses can help with circulation and healing.
• Monitor wounds: abscesses, severe swelling or persistent pain may need medical care. Early treatment can prevent serious infections.
• Stay hydrated and nourished: good nutrition, hydration and rest all help to heal your body.

Safety considerations

• Blood-borne viruses: sharing or reusing equipment increases the risk of getting HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Regular testing and vaccinations (for hep B) are recommended.
• Vein and tissue damage: repeated injecting can cause collapsed veins, scarring, ulcers and circulation issues.
• Overdose risks: drug contents are unpredictable. Even experienced users may be caught off-guard by stronger batches or contaminants. Reagent testing and/or a test shot when using a new supply can significantly reduce overdose risk.
• Skin and soft-tissue infections: missed shots, dirty equipment, or unfiltered drugs can cause abscesses, cellulitis and sepsis.

Support, services, and information

• Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs): free sterile equipment, safe disposal and harm reduction advice are available at NSPs. These are, often at pharmacies, community health centres and hospitals.
• Naloxone access: naloxone is available free without a prescription in most states and can reverse opioid overdoses. NSPs can also provide training on use.

  Find a Take Home Naloxone (THN) provider near you

  The THN Program provides naloxone free to people who may experience or witness an opioid overdose.

• Health services: sexual health clinics, GPs and community health centres can offer you non-judgemental care for vein health, plus help with wound care, blood tests, and vaccinations.
• Legal information: it is legal to possess sterile injecting equipment from an NSP or pharmacy. Make sure you dispose of used equipment in sharps bins, which are available at NSPs, pharmacies and some public locations.
• Peer support: many harm reduction services employ peer workers with lived and living experience of injecting drug use who can provide practical support, information and connection.