• Welcome Guest

    Forum Guidelines Bluelight Rules
    Fun 💃 Threads Overdosed? Click
    D R U G   C U L T U R E

Do You Filter?

Captain.Heroin

Bluelight Crew
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
Messages
94,863
Location
Thousands of Miles Away From You
I would like for this to be a poll, please.

1) Yes I Filter, with a Micron Filter
2) Yes I Filter, with a Cotton Filter
3) Yes I Filter, other (explain below)
4) No, I do not filter

I'm genuinely interested in hearing from other IDU's what they do to filter. If you vote that you cotton filter, could you also let me know how you acquire cotton? Do you get it from a needle exchange? Do you rip it off a Q-tip? Do you buy big bags of cotton balls and then just tear off tiny bits from each one? What is your process for using cotton as a filter - do you compact it into a syringe, or do you poke the needle tip through a bit of it?

If you don't filter, could you briefly explain why you do not filter? I understand some people may be in 3rd world countries, or living in poverty their entire lives, but a cotton filter is better than nothing. Aside from that, there are only a few drugs pure enough to not need a filter (especially when they come in vials that are meant for IM/IV use); so if you're one of those people who only injects an IM-ready solution of ketamine, or whatever, you can explain that your "no" answer is a HR-friendly "no" lol.

I'd like to see how well micron filtering has caught on around here, as well as seeing how many people at least know to use cottons. You can say what you're filtering and how if you'd like. I know when I first started off I didn't even bother filtering. I then picked up cotton filters, and then micron filters. If you're pre-filtering with cotton and then using a micron filter, just vote that you use a micron filter.


* Micron Filtering Mega Thread and FAQ
* Resources as to alternatives to cotton, thanks to tommyboy for finding the source:
NSFW:
I found this study which performed experiments with four types of filters, and compared the results.

Method: Permission was sought and granted from the Crown Office through the Procurator Fiscal for Grampian Region, to obtain street heroin for the purpose of this research project. Samples of street heroin from closed cases were supplied from Grampian Police after inspection of the premises and approval of the project by the Home Office. Semi structured interviews were carried out with 20 current or ex injecting drug users, to establish the methods they used to prepare their injections. Harm reduction leaflets were consulted to ensure that the preparation technique used followed the best practice advice given ( Exeter Drugs Project, 2nd Ed; HIT, 1995). From this, the laboratory method was established.

250mg of street heroin was weighed accurately. This quantity was chosen because most drug users reported injecting a 'quarter gram bag' or preparing a 'quarter gram hit' and sharing it with a partner. Citric acid was stated as the preferred additive and the quantity used described as a 'small pinch'. Ten 'small pinches' of citric acid were weighed and the average weight taken (14mg). Therefore 14mg of citric acid BP. was weighed accurately and added to the heroin. This was then transferred onto a clean metal tea spoon and 0.8ml water freshly boiled and cooled from the kettle was added. This quantity was used because 80 units (the measure on an insulin syringe equivalent to 0.8ml) was the quantity most commonly reported as used. This was then stirred with the sheathed end of an insulin syringe and heated over a flame. The point where the solid mass appeared to sink to the bottom of the spoon and the top liquid appeared clear and began to bubble was taken to be the end point of heating, as described during the interviews.

The three make shift filters were investigated: (1) A quarter of a cigarette filter, prepared by removing the outer paper, tearing in half then cutting in half again. This was stated to be the most popular filter used by those interviewed. (2) A hand rolling filter (Rizla 7mm acetate filter), no preparation necessary. This type of filter is distributed by some needle exchanges in the UK. (3) A tip from a cotton bud, removed by pulling gently with the fingers and rolling the end fibres into a thread (perceived to reduce fibre shedding). This was stated to be used by some of those interviewed, if no cigarette filter was available. The commercial syringe filter investigated was the 5 micron Acrodisk, made by Gelman Sciences. This filter is specifically designed for use by medical and scientific staff to remove particles from injections. The particles were detected using the Coulter MultisizerÒ. The size range of particles selected for analysis was between 2 to 60 microns, to ensure those of interest were detecteda. Controls were analysed using injections made with water only, both boiled and cooled from the kettle and water for injection. These were done to confirm that the heroin is the major source of particles and not the water and preparation procedure. Unfiltered and filtered injections were analysed. Each experiment was repeated three times and the average result taken. Change in concentration of diamorphine was measured using Capillary Zone Electrophoresis (Hewlett Packard), using a method developed for a separate research project (Mrs Ann Low, personal communication). The concentrations before and after filtration were compared. Each sample was assayed twice and the average result was taken. Street heroin is made up of many opiates, diamorphine usually being the principle one. Therefore it is important to note that further work is necessary to measure all opiates in the sample to gain a complete understanding of how the filtration process may affect the psychoactive effects of injections made from street heroin (source).


Percentage of particles removed by the four different filters used in this experiment

[table="width: 750, class: grid, align: center"]
[tr]
[td]
Cigarette Filter​
[/td]
[td]
Rizla Filter​
[/td]
[td]
Cotton Bud​
[/td]
[td]
Micron Filter​
[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]
79.4​
[/td]
[td]
90.4​
[/td]
[td]
89.4​
[/td]
[td]
95.1​
[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

The descriptions of these filters are in bold in the above quote. I wanted to point out that they refer to micron or 'wheel' filters as 'syringe filters.' I switched it to micron filter on the chart since we mostly refer to them as such here on bluelight. The Rizla filters are the filters you use to roll your own cigarettes (particularly in the UK), although I'm not sure if the Rizla 7mm acetate filter is the best one to use out of all the different Rizla filter sizes.

If you are not using a micron/wheel filter, then Rizla 7mm acetate filters are the second best choice. However, most people that don't use micron filters seem to use either regular cigarette filters, or cotton swabs. According to this study, cotton filters are more effective than cigarette filters, so those of you that have contemplated between the two now have your answer as to which one you should use.
* What slow-release oral morphine tablets look like... 1) unfiltered, 2) cigarette filtered, and then 3) 0.45um micron filtered (full study) - thanks to Flexistentialist for citing it on Bluelight before me. :)
1477-7517-6-37-1.jpg
 
Cotton filter, from a Q-Tip. Tear it off, use scissors to cut it down to a small piece, and make sure to cut off any fray. Then sleeve it onto the tip.

The concept of not using any filter terrifies me.
 
I filtered with needle exchange dental cotton. Roll up tightly in ball, drop in spoon, draw up with pin poked in cotton
 
All my friends who inject use those cigarette cotton filters...I've tried to tell them about micron filters but they won't listen, oh well at least they use some sort of filter. Me personally i've only injected liquid diliadud and liquid morphine once straight from the hospital so no filter was needed.
 
I filter everything with a micron filter regardless if it came in a sealed vial or not. I operate under the assumption that as long as it has touched air it's not sterile. Yes, call me a clean freak, but it's just how I am.

I've received pure ketamine before in crystal form, and once I heated it in sterile water I still ended up putting it through a filter just in case. I like to make sure that the very end product, whatever it may be, passes from a filter into the sterile ampule.
 
Cotton filter rolled tight and wet, or 3 stuffed into a syringe..

but i have shot unfiltered coke, heroin, meth, dilaudid suboxone, and meph 8(
 
I wish microns were more accessible. I know, just order them online, but you know what I mean. Most people either never heard of them or don't care enough about harm reduction. I personally just don't want to order them living with my parents and everything.

But to answer the question I always use a rolled up cotton ball. I've used friends cig filters a handful of times.
 
2) Yes I Filter, with a Cotton Filter

I usually do filter but sometimes I don't have a piece of cotton or I'm too lazy to get some or whatever.

What I do is mix the water and dope, heating or not depends on my mood, pull some cotton off a Qtip, roll it into a tight ball and drop it in, stick the needle in and draw it up.

Oh, and I get the powder dope.
 
I filter everything with a micron filter regardless if it came in a sealed vial or not. I operate under the assumption that as long as it has touched air it's not sterile. Yes, call me a clean freak, but it's just how I am.

I've received pure ketamine before in crystal form, and once I heated it in sterile water I still ended up putting it through a filter just in case. I like to make sure that the very end product, whatever it may be, passes from a filter into the sterile ampule.

^ it's better to be safe than sorry :)
 
#2- Yes I filter, with a cotton filter.

I'd buy the box of "sterile cotton" they sell at chain drugstores and use that. I'd place my needle tip in the cotton after rolling it up tightly & draw up while the pin in the cotton- very similar to Serotonin's process.
 
i use a cotton filter. i recently bought some micron filters but cant find an oral syringe that will work with them :(
 
Cotton filter rolled tight and wet(

I do the same. Pull off a piece and a bit of water helps to keep it rolled up into a ball.
I used to get the dental cottons from the exchange, but I like to stick the cotton on the needle's tip and draw up that way. The dental ones are on the border of being too small for that.
Does anyone else do that? Stick their cotton on the tip, dip it into the shot and draw up? I find that I get the entirety of the shot drawn quicker and easier than when I would drop the cotton in.
I've wondered if doing it that way increases the chances of getting cotton fever. I've never had it, so I don't worry too much. Just wondered.
 
No, but I make damn sure there's nothing floating around in the spoon. I inject meth and have never had any problems since I get high quality shit. However, I always make sure it's clear before I draw up the solution.
 
Aren't luer locks also known as tuberculin syringes as well? They're usually 3-5ml in size if I remember correctly
 
I have used micron filters for my entire time injecting of about 3 years or more. As they get given with the spoons you get at needle exchanges here in the UK there's no excuse not to. Not sure what size they filter to though, I think it's 0.2 of whatever the measurement is.
 
For the vast majority of my IV drug using history I have only used a cotton (or sometimes a cigarette filter) to filter my solutions, be it cocaine (crack and powder), heroin, and sadly, many pills. However I finally this year was give. Micron filters and while I ran out of them a while back, my friend just sent me another batch which is awesome. Luckily I have not been shooting pills or crack (or cocaine), just relatively good heroin with what seems like pretty benign cuts.

The problem I find with heroin is that I am always kind of afraid to micron heroin in large quantities at a time as I always feel as though with dope that I lose a lot of the solution. However, now that I'm (unfortunately) using a lot more heroin than I previously had been, I could micron 2 bundles at a time and not have to worry about it converting back to morphine as between my girlfriend and myself we use at least that much every day.

I don't know why but I remember that when I first got into injecting cocaine, I was taught not to use any filter at all. For some reason at the time all the come I got seemed to be cut with completely water soluble adulterants because I would actually be able to draw it up that way, but thinking back it's horrifying. Especially nowadays with the huge percentage of cocaine being cut with levemisole I would strongly recommend anyone unfortunate enough to be injecting blow to invest in .25 micron filters.
 
Top