What are the Dangers of Injection Drug Use?
Along with an increased risk of the aforementioned infections, injections can damage the skin and veins, and nonsterile injections can introduce invasive bacteria and fungi into the bloodstream, which can ultimately lead to conditions such as:3,5,8,11,17-19
- Infective endocarditis. Injection-related bacteria or fungi can travel to the heart and cause infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart’s inner lining and valves. In fact, almost 30% of hospitalizations for this condition are related to injection drug use.
- Epidural abscess. An epidural abscess is a type of infection in the epidural space in the brain or spinal column.
- Skin and soft tissue infections. Injecting a drug subcutaneously or intramuscularly makes it easier for bacteria to get into the skin, increasing the risk of skin infections such as cellulitis.
- Bone, joint, and skeletal infections. Thanks to the spread of bacteria from other sites (e.g., heart valves as well as skin and soft tissues), injection drug use can also lead to skeletal infections as well as a bone infection called osteomyelitis.
- Bacteremia and fungemia. These terms refer to bacteria and fungi in the blood, respectively.
- Wound botulism. Those who inject drugs are at risk for wound botulism, a potentially life-threatening illness that occurs when a germ called Clostridium botulinum enters and creates a toxin inside a wound. Those particularly at risk include people who inject black tar heroin and those who inject under the skin and/or into the muscle.
- Pulmonary infections. Lung infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, are more prevalent among injection drug users.
Additional Dangers of Injection Drug Use
Along with blood-borne infections, injection drug use is associated with several additional dangers including:2,5,7,9,11,20
- Vascular injuries. Repeated injection into a vein can destroy its function. dThus, vascular injuries such as collapsed veins are a common occurrence among injection drug users.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). Injection drug use is a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis, a condition where a blood clot forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. DVT can be serious as the clot may break loose and travel to the lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. Thrombosis with injection drug use often goes undetected for years, making it a potentially silent killer.
- Noninfectious pulmonary complications. It’s common for injection drug use to deposit foreign bodies in the blood, which can lead to foreign body granulomatosis, a type of inflammatory reaction. Other associated pulmonary complications can include pulmonary edema, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, and fatal asthma exacerbations.
- Overdose – Given the fast-acting effects of injection drug use, it carries a disproportionate risk for overdose. Newer synthetic drug analogues, namely illicitly manufactured fentanyls, are usually more potent than other opioids, which can further increase the risk of overdose.
How to Reduce the Risk of Infections from Injection Drug Use
So how can someone decrease risks associated with injection drug use? Certainly, the best method is abstinence. However, for those unwilling or unable to maintain abstinence, risk reduction options include:5,21-23
- Needle or syringe exchange programs. Offered by various private and public organizations, needle exchange programs are designed to reduce the transmission of blood-borne infections among those who inject drugs. These programs typically provide clean, sterile needles and syringes, safe disposal of used paraphernalia, education, counseling, and community outreach. One such program, the North American Syringe Exchange Network (NASEN), offers a map-based directory of some such programs operating in the U.S.
- Syringe prescriptions. Physicians in most states are also allowed to assist those who inject drugs by prescribing and dispensing syringes.
- Vaccinations. The risk of contracting some diseases can be reduced via vaccinations. For example, those who participate in IV drug use should be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Note, however, that there are no vaccines for Hepatitis C and HIV.
- Pre-exposure prophylaxis, (PrEP). PrEP is a prescription medication used to prevent HIV. When taken as prescribed, it’s highly effective, as it reduces the risk of contracting HIV from sex by roughly 99% and from injection drug use by at least 74%. That said, it doesn’t protect against other STDs, so condom use during sex is still recommended.
- Naloxone. While naloxone can’t prevent against infection, it can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose. The medication can be sprayed into the nose or injected into muscle, skin, or veins. However, its effects don’t last long, and it doesn’t reverse the effects of other substances that may be contributing to an overdose. So it’s important to seek medical help as soon as possible even after administering naloxone.
It’s important to note that using clean needles may not be enough to completely prevent blood-borne infections. That’s because when someone injects a substance, their blood may enter the needle, syringe, or other component of the injection equipment. So even if you disinfect the needle, the syringe or other components may have trace amounts of the previous user’s blood, which can then be transmitted—along with any bacteria and forms of infection—into the next user’s bloodstream. And unfortunately, those pathogens can stick around for a long time. According to the CDC, HIV can survive in a syringe for up to 42 days.16
Treatment for Injection Drug Use
The aforementioned tactics can reduce the risks of injection drug use complications. However, the best way to ensure your physical and emotional health over the long term is abstinence from drug use altogether. Treatment can help you get there.
Since everyone is unique, treatment plans are customized to the needs of each individual. That said, various levels of care are available including:24
These treatment programs use a variety of types of therapies and interventions, and facilities offer a range of services and amenities to suit your needs and preferences. With facilities scattered across the country, American Addiction Centers offers the full spectrum of care as well as a wide range of payment options. Plus, AAC treatment centers are in-network with a number of insurance providers, which typically cover part or all treatment costs.
To determine just how much you’d pay out of pocket for treatment, contact an AAC admissions navigator at . Caring professionals are available 24/7 for a confidential conversation to discuss treatment options, answer your questions, and help you or a loved one take the first steps toward recovery today.
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