Drugs
Drugs you smoke….
When you smoke a drug you can
hurt the tissues in your mouth, throat
and lungs. You are unlikely to get
HIV or other STI from smoking a drug.
But, be aware that you could get meningitis.
When you’re high on drugs, you
have to be very sure you’re using
the condom right! If you’re high
and having sex, it’s harder to
be in control. You may be talked into
things like unsafe sex very easily,
you might pass out, or you might just
not care that much because you are
more into your high then protecting
yourself. You might also forget to
take your HIV meds if you are high.
Have condoms or dental dams around,
beside your bed or somewhere where
you’ll see them. That way, you’ll
probably think to use them, especially
if you are drunk or high. If you are
planning to party plan to be safe
too, bring condoms or dental dams
and lube with your drugs.
For more information:
Marijuana: Facts for Teens
http://www.nida.nih.gov/MarijBroch/Marijteens.html
Tips for Teens: The truth about
Marijuana
http://www.drugfreeinfo.org/PDFs/tipsmari.PDF
Drugs you drink…
Alcohol is a drug too. When you are
drunk it is harder to be in control
of what you are doing and be safe
doing it – be aware that you
may be easily talked into things like
unprotected sex, you could pass out,
or you might just not care that much
and just go with the flow of things
without thinking about the outcome
of what you are doing.
For more information:
Teen Health: Answers & Advice
on Alcohol
http://kidshealth.org/teen/drug_alcohol/alcohol/alcohol.html
Drugs you inject…
Sharing needles to inject drugs into
your veins is a very easy way to get
HIV, Hepatitis C and other diseases.
When you share needles, a small amount
of blood from the people who used
the needle before you is passed on
to you. If their blood has HIV in
it, or another disease, it will be
injected along with the drug into
your bloodstream.
The safest choice is to make sure
that you, and the people you are injecting
drugs with, use a clean needle every
time you inject or share drugs. Don’t
ever share needles. If you live in
Vancouver you can go to the safe injection
site (Insite) to get help and/or clean
equipment. There are many needle exchange
programs where you can get FREE, clean
needles. Please don’t throw your
old needles into the garbage! Dispose
of them in a container that is only
for this purpose and then take the
used needles to the needle exchange
program, where the staff will be happy
to get rid of them for you properly.
If you don’t have a clean, brand
new needle, you can clean your needles
with bleach. BUT it is very hard to
completely clean a used needle, so
cleaning usually only lower the risk
of getting HIV.
REMEMBER: BLEACH CAN KILL HIV
BUT NOT HEPATITIS C!!!
3 step method:
- Water x1 Fill the syring with
water, shake it then empty it
- Bleach x2 Fill the syring with
pure bleach, shake it for 30 seconds,
then empty it. Do this twice!
- Water x2 Fill the syringe with
water, shake it then empty it. Do
this twice!
Syringe- This is the part the needle
is put on. It’s a tube that holds
whatever the needle is going to put
into you.
Don’t forget the clean the spoon
or cooker in pure bleach and water,
and change filters. Blood particles
are there too.
Look out for abscesses!
Some people get abscesses from using
drugs. An abscess is a pocket of pus
that you usually will get in your
arms or legs. This means that you
have an infection. If you think you
have an abscess, get in touch with
a healthcare professional right away.
[Check out the Getting
Help section for more information]
Muscling –
This is when you inject the drug into
your muscle. Muscling is a very painful
way to use drugs and it puts you at
high risk for getting an abscess or
other tissue infections. Try to avoid
muscling.
Skin Popping –
This is when you inject drugs under
your skin. Skin popping is an extremely
painful way of using drugs and it
puts you at high risk for getting
an abscess or other tissue infections.
Try to avoid skin popping.
Crystal meth, GHB & ecstasy
If you do use these drugs make
sure:
- You drink lots of water
- You tell someone what drugs you
are using and how much.
These drugs can affect your body
and mind in a number of different
ways. To stay healthy it is better
to try to stop using these drugs.
But, if you are planning on using
them it is important to note the following:
- Using crystal meth, GHB or ecstasy
often makes you loose your appetite
and not able to sleep. Since its
so important tot eat and sleep well
to stay healthy this can make it
harder for your body to stay fight
the HIV virus.
- When you are high it is easier
to forget to take your meds. So,
you need to bring your meds with
your party weekend and figure out
a way to remember to take them.
Again, taking your meds on a regular
schedule can’t be stressed
enough!
- Some stimulants like cocaine and
crystal meth can increase the HIV
viral replication in your body.
This puts extra stress on your immune
system.
How do drugs affect my HIV meds?
When you are taking HIV meds other
drugs have a stronger effect. So you
may end up getting higher faster and
longer than if you were not on HIV
meds. If you are going to use other
drugs while on meds, you may want
to think about using fewer and less
party drugs. Before using any drugs
it is a good idea to learn about the
way they affect your HIV meds, methadone,
anti-depressants and/or oral contraceptives
(birth control)
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