Vein care goes hand in hand with safer injecting, as many of the practices that prevent infection, also contribute to healthier veins. Young people who are injecting drug users should be encouraged to access a G.P. or nurse to assess the condition of the young person’s veins on a regular basis. There are also some medicated creams that are effective at controlling bruising and preventing scarring, when used along with good injecting technique.
The linked information, presented by the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL), is a comprehensive guide to vein care suitable for practitioners and young people with strong literacy skills. It covers:
- Preparation
- Mixing up
- Injecting
- Cleaning up
- Using in groups
- Injecting pills
- Intramuscular injecting
- Skin-popping (injecting under the skin)
- Alternatives to Injecting
- Smoking or ‘chasing’
- Smoking heroin
- Smoking crystal meth/ice
- Snorting
- Swallowing
- Rectal administration: ‘shafting’
- Stopping drug use