Understanding Needle Injuries: Risks & Prevention

Roughly 3.7 million Americans reported injecting a drug within the last year. The number of people injecting drugs has increased substantially alongside the nation’s opioid crisis and general increase in substance misuse. This has led to tens of thousands of annual hepatitis infections as well as troubling setbacks in HIV prevention.

With injection drug use comes major risks, many of which can be life-threatening. This article covers the risks of needle use and effective ways to prevent needle injury and infection.

What Are the Risks Of Needle Use?

Risks with needle use for recreational drugs include deadly and paralyzing complications related to your heart, bones, brain, blood, and spine. Many of these complications are caused by serious skin and soft tissue infections like:

• Life-threatening endocarditis (infection of the heart’s inner lining)
• HIV
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis C
• Staph infections
• Cellulitis
• Tuberculosis (TB)

Drug-related injections can also lead to serious complications that aren’t infectious diseases, including:

• Stroke
• Paralysis
• Blindness
• Sepsis
• Lifelong heart problems
• Symptoms similar to withdrawal
• Death
• Long hospital stays (1+ months)

According to a 2020 study, people who have experienced serious bacterial infections related to injection drug use have a higher rate of morbidity and mortality. These people experienced a fifty-fold increase in overdose deaths compared to drug users who have not had a serious bacterial infection, indicating that infections can be a sign of the severity of an addiction.

The CDC states that the recent increase in injection drug use is threatening the progress that has been made in HIV prevention. Until recent years, HIV diagnoses had been declining steadily since the 1990s. But between 2014-2019, this progress not only stalled – HIV infections actually increased by 12%. Worldwide, 1 in 8 people who inject drugs are living with HIV.

Additionally, the U.S. saw a 4.9-fold increase in new Hepatitis C infections between 2010-2019, the majority of which were due to injection drug use.

Signs of Needle Infection

Needle infections are common among people who use recreational drugs. It’s important to be familiar with the symptoms of a needle infection in case one develops. Signs of these infections include (but are not limited to):

• Abscesses (pockets of pus)
• Skin swelling, warmth, or tenderness
• Fever
• Skin ulcers (open round sores)
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Painful skin

If you experience symptoms of an infection after injecting drugs, seek medical attention right away. The same is true if you experience recurring infections.

How to Prevent Needle Injury and Infection

The number one way to prevent needle injury and infection is to stop using injection drugs. However, if you are unable to do so or don’t feel ready to stop, there are still some things you can do to help prevent deadly complications, including the following:

• Use a new needle: Just like in health care settings, the gold standard for using a needle is to find one that is brand new and single-use so that it’s sterile instead of just clean. This ensures the needle is free of infection-causing bacteria and, therefore, is the safest method.
• Do not reuse needles: Needles can dull quickly. When they do, they’re more likely to cause injury to your veins or nearby tissue. This can cause a larger injury and more blood loss. Additionally, dull needles are more painful than sharp, new needles.
• Do not share equipment: Blood-borne infections like HIV and hepatitis are commonly spread by people who share drug injection equipment. Used equipment can be contaminated with infected blood, even when you try to clean it. 
• Clean your hands and the injection area: Before injecting, use alcohol or soap to clean your hands and the area you plan to inject. Do not inject into existing wounds or an area of skin that is swollen or painful. This can help keep bacteria out.
• Set up a clean surface: Injection equipment can collect bacteria if it is set down on a non-clean surface. Be sure to thoroughly clean the surface before putting any equipment down.
• Utilize a syringe services program: Syringe services programs can provide access to sterile equipment as well as testing and a place to safely dispose of old needles. They can also vaccinate you to prevent infections like Hepatitis B and help link you to care if you do get an infection.
• Get professional help: If you have an interest in stopping drug injections but aren’t sure how connect with a mental health professional. Syringe services programs can help connect you to substance use treatment. You can also call our addiction recovery office at 213-464-0962. We are here to help.

SoberMind Recovery: Dual Diagnosis Treatment in Los Angeles

SoberMind Recovery in Los Angeles works with individuals who are facing drug addiction along with mental health struggles like anxiety and depression through our Dual-Diagnosis Program. We welcome anyone who is seeking help, including those who are looking for LGBTQ+ sober living programs.

Find your path to health and healing. Call our team now at 213-464-0962.