in British Columbia, Canada, you can purchase syringes without a prescription at the discretion of the pharmacist.
If you straight up admit that you need clean syringes to administer drugs, they will sell you what you want without hassle. This depends on the pharmacy. Some pharmacies will not sell you anything if they know it's for drug use. Some pharmacies will still sell to you, under the umbrella of harm-reduction. Also, pharmacies here hand out free sharps containers, and accept closed, and filled sharps containers for disposal.
Im in MI and around these parts every store has a policy to not sell needles with no script.
Got so bad people were buying veterinary syringes to IV 23 guage. You got that right 23, mightve been 22 even. And that seems to be what the shooters are doing around here.
Very not harm reduction. I have quit IV'ing for now, untill I man up and internet order some and just make sure Im there when they arrive.
21 gauge needles are the standard size used for phlebotomy procedures, and are most appropriate for a large vein, like the ones you find in your antecubtial area (crock of elbow)
by no means are these needles HUGE. a 21 or 22 gauge needle is PLEASANT for large volume injections (above 3cc's), also registering with them is a breeze. Sometimes the pressure inside your vein automatically makes the flash appear when you hit the vein. i have poked hundreds of people with 21 gauge needles, and if your technique is good, they will leave no bigger mark than, say, a 25 or 27 gauage.
I never understood how people can shoot up with 30 or 31 gauge needles. First, you must have a very clear solution, since the small lumen clogs very easily. Furthermore, i have trouble registering with a 27 gauge, i can't imagine how painful it would be trying to register with a 30 gauge. I only ever used one once, and it was such a pain in the ass... Also, the needle seems so thin and fragile, like an accident waiting to happen almost.
I love my 25 gauge, 1 inch needle. Even this is a bit on the small side for 3cc injections i find. a 23 gauge (standard needle used on toddlers and babys in phlebotomy procedures, and hand veins) gives the most comfort and ease of use, since you can push fast and register easy. The 25 gauge chokes the flow a bit, and it's hard to see if you're still in the vein, because you have to push slowly. But it makes up for the small mark it leaves on your arm after. 25 gauge is small enough that i can hit veins on my foot, hand and arms. It's my universal goto-choice, if i am not sure where i am going to inject.