Notice to Readers
Publication of HIV-Prevention Bulletin for Health-Care Providers
Regarding Advice to Persons Who Inject Illicit Drugs
Persons who inject illicit drugs are at risk for acquiring and
transmitting bloodborne infections, including human
immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C. CDC, the
Health Resources and Services Administration, the National
Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health, and
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have
released a bulletin for health-care providers that contains the
following provisional recommendations for persons who continue to
inject illicit drugs:
Stop using and injecting drugs.
Enter and complete substance-abuse treatment, including relapse
prevention.
If use of illicit injected drugs continues, take the following
steps to reduce personal health risks and public health risks:
Never reuse or "share" syringes, water, or drug-preparation
equipment.
Use only syringes obtained from a safe, reliable source
(e.g., pharmacies).
Use a new, sterile syringe to prepare and inject drugs.
If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise
use clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap
water).
Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new
filter ("cotton") to prepare drugs.
Clean the injection site before injection with a new alcohol
swab.
Safely dispose of syringes after one use.
Single copies of the bulletin are available free of charge from the
CDC National AIDS Clearinghouse, telephone (800) 458-5231 or (301)
217-0023. The bulletin is also available on the World-Wide Web at
http://www.cdc.gov/nchstp/hiv_aids/pubs.htm.
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