Harm Reduction Needle exchanges: how do most of them operate and what are your experiences?

[Oxymorphone]

Damn, they are all closed in NY on sunday. After my terrifying dirty hit experience earlier this morning I don't want to IV anything until I get sterile water.

I was careless and used 4-5 day old bottle water that I left unrefrigerated overnight once which is what the consensus of the cause is. I have a sealed bottle of Dassani (I don't know how good this is for IVing since it has salt which seems good in concept but I want to be careful).

Also what's the deal with distilled water? Is it safer than normal bottled? Since you can only buy gallons I would think it would get contaminated quick.

 

[phr]

What the exchange rate for clean vs dirty and the local laws will vary. Until recently, there was a ban on federal funding for needle exchanges.

Some exchanges give out microns, and some may give out naloxone.


Personally, I'd prefer to go to a pharmacy/online instead of an exchange. Limited hours and locations, not to mention you're around a bunch of seedy people at the exchanges.

 

[Oxymorphone]

What the exchange rate for clean vs dirty and the local laws will vary. Until recently, there was a ban on federal funding for needle exchanges.

Some exchanges give out microns, and some may give out naloxone.


Personally, I'd prefer to go to a pharmacy/online instead of an exchange. Limited hours and locations, not to mention you're around a bunch of seedy people at the exchanges.

I would love to know what needle exchanges give out microns... Hell i would travel there and stock up, I know none in NYC do. The legality of carrying over 10 needles still confuses me, I also wish they weren't all closed Sunday. I like the pharmacy for quick 10 packs but after you have 30+ dirty needles it's worth going to the exchange and the things I really want are sterile water (had a miserable dirty shot experience and thought I was ODing last night) and also the other accessories they give out. To get nalaxone you have to go through a course which I plan on doing since it seems worthwhile, even though I'm not around junkies and it is useless for bupe.

 

[Oxymorphone]

Wow, i went to the needle exchange at 25 Allen St, brought 30 needles (said they were 40), got my card, and it is like an IV user's candy shop, with a bonus of more different kinds of condoms, lube and safe sex supplies anyone could want. http://www.leshrc.org/

Here are some pics of what I picked up and was given today. I took a lot of it, they just say take what you need and one of the guys working there was also shoving stuff in my bag, I made sure to get a lot of sterile water. The only thing that could make it perfect is if they had microns (too expensive and won't happen) and 31G needles. the smallest they had were 28 which I took and I bought a pack of 31gs on the way home.

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I got a bunch of different kinds of condoms, shit like dental dams, flavored lube, and female condoms to fuck around with which I would normally never buy. In short: this exchange was fucking awesome! I was hesitant because I thought most were trailers on the street with people waiting in the cold but this was a nice place that had counseling, a big flat screen TV lounge area, food and other programs for people, plus a Narcan training program I'm going to go to and get some Narcan to have on hand (it's saved someone's life I know and I want to have it on hand). Plus it seems like the perfect plac to get connections and score shit, I went around with a guy I met but he couldn't find his dude or something, it's probabkly a good thing because I would have probably bought and relapsed on heroin (even though I think I could use it again for a short binge and control it and then go back to suboxone). Exchanges rule. :D

 

[Oxymorphone]

I just used one of the needles and after getting used to 31Gs these 28s feel like I'm really doing damage to my arms. I also fucked up and tried using the rubber tournequette but couldn't get it undone before pushing the plunger down so I injected with it still tight then when I pulled out I got a nice amount of blood and what looks to be a small 5mm dark bruise from the blood under the skin and only that small since I was able to ice it fast and control it.

I forgot how much I hated those rubber tourniquets especially when you can't get them undone with your teeth, I gotta make sure one end is in my mouth before injecting next time.

 

[Jabberwocky]

nice score man, but im just gonna wrap those pics in nsfw tags for everyones convenience so the page doesnt take ages to load, etc

 

[Oxymorphone]

nice score man, but im just gonna wrap those pics in nsfw tags for everyones convenience so the page doesnt take ages to load, etc

Thanks, I really like this exchange. they have other stuff you can ask for too, I gotta remember to get ointment but I saw they had cabinets full of general health stuff like chapstick, bandaids, tylenol, and even breath mints so they really do have candy.

 

[Jabberwocky]

haha right, because we all know how bad a shot of dope makes our breathes smell afterward thats awesome that you have such a good exchange, you guys are lucky! im pretty sure where i go also supplies all your general first aid consumables as well

 

[Oxymorphone]

haha right, because we all know how bad a shot of dope makes our breathes smell afterward thats awesome that you have such a good exchange, you guys are lucky! im pretty sure where i go also supplies all your general first aid consumables as well

Yeah, I'm interested in checking out another- the one on 37th street someone mentioned. Also that was your 8,888 post, congrats!

 

[Oxymorphone]

Damn these 28 g needle are a hge difference from 31Gs which are like nothing going in and out. They usually give out 27s too I don't know how people use them. I guess I used 27s and 28s when I was an active heroin addict and my arms were bruised and trackmarkes like hell.

I'm going to check out another exchange or to and find one with 31Gs because you really can't go back after getting used to them, it's like getting bitten by a mosquito compared to stung by a hornet. I would be happy with 30 but the 20 range is too big for me now, I don't like feeling and almost hearing each layer of skin pictured and feeling the resistance of the needle and feeling it as it pushed through the wall of the vein. I was crazy when I used to reuse needles this size or 27 10 times or more before trashing them when I was a heroin junkie, I wish I found the exchange then, I can't imagine using these dull, but I suppose they dull less easy than then tiny needles.

I picked up a few of these interesting needle sterilizing kits they have for if you're desperate and only have old needles they give you bleech, a cap, sterile water, and instructions on how to sterilize them for reuse if you need to. I think that is a neat idea.

I'm goin gto propose a little kit/instruction sheet on how to make a filter from a used syringe, just a little slip of paper with a diagram and instructions and some cotton tin a cylindrical shape to stuff in a barrel plus maybe sterile water and a cap. i think that would be very worthwhile to have at exchanges, I'm a huge advocate on here and it's the one area that isn't really covered by exchanged in terms of harm reduction. If they can make a needle bleeching kit this would be easier and just as helpful.

Also I find the little cotton balls with the hole to be too small to be effective. I made them useful by not going through the hole and stack two on the end of a needle like a kabob then draw up. I like slightly bigger cotton for better filtration. these are small things, I'm just seeing now how most people use. I like these metal caps for mixing though, I was using shot glasses and contact lens cases and these are great now.

 

[Oxymorphone]

I just noticed this. on the sterile plastic water tubes it says

STERILE - NOT FOR INJECTION
STERILE WATER
FOR INHALATION. USP

Hmm, they supply them for injection and it seems the next best thing to expensive glass vials of bacteriostatic water. What's the difference really? Side note, after I'm done with one and not IVing anything else for a while I like squeezing out the excess onto my tongue, it's the most tasteless and interesting water I've drank.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

I just noticed this. on the sterile plastic water tubes it says


Hmm, they supply them for injection and it seems the next best thing to expensive glass vials of bacteriostatic water. What's the difference really? Side note, after I'm done with one and not IVing anything else for a while I like squeezing out the excess onto my tongue, it's the most tasteless and interesting water I've drank.

I wish there were exchanges around where I live.. I could always go back to manchester nh and go to one there but im up in maine for now and i doubt there are any around here.

All I really want are those little cottons for filtering.. ive got needles and everything else I need to be safe. like rubbing alcohol pads and shit like that.. but I only IV once in a blue moon and b4 i do next time im getting micron filters.. cuz it'll be subs that ill be shooting and I DONT want an absess... I hope I dont miss :/

 

[Oxymorphone]

I wish there were exchanges around where I live.. I could always go back to manchester nh and go to one there but im up in maine for now and i doubt there are any around here.

All I really want are those little cottons for filtering.. ive got needles and everything else I need to be safe. like rubbing alcohol pads and shit like that.. but I only IV once in a blue moon and b4 i do next time im getting micron filters.. cuz it'll be subs that ill be shooting and I DONT want an absess... I hope I dont miss :/

Suboxone is one of the few pill where it really is pretty safe to IV without much filtering, a micron is overkill and useful only if you are making a large batch of solution you need to be sterile and perfect for long term use. As far as missing, if you pull back to register you are in a vein and get dark blood in the barrel as confirmation how can you miss? Then the only way is if you slip or somehow go though the vein, and if I am doing a big shot with 1CC of solution I will re-register 1/3 and 2/3rd the way through to make sure I am still in the vein. If I'm not using my favorite vein I do slip out once in a while mid shot so re-registering prevents misses. And you aren't going to get an abscess from suboxone even if you don't use any filters at all and some people don't even bother with cotton since everything is soluble and there is nothing harmful in it.

As for the little cottons, they are neat but I prefer big dense cotton pulled of a q-tip, these are a little tiny for my liking. I like to have to suck the cotton dry. If you just want cottons and whatever else if you send me money for shipping I'll mail you whatever you want from the exchanges that I can get besides needles, and that goes for everyone who can't get to an exchange and wants the extra freebies.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

Suboxone is one of the few pill where it really is pretty safe to IV without much filtering, a micron is overkill and useful only if you are making a large batch of solution you need to be sterile and perfect for long term use. As far as missing, if you pull back to register you are in a vein and get dark blood in the barrel as confirmation how can you miss? Then the only way is if you slip or somehow go though the vein, and if I am doing a big shot with 1CC of solution I will re-register 1/3 and 2/3rd the way through to make sure I am still in the vein. If I'm not using my favorite vein I do slip out once in a while mid shot so re-registering prevents misses. And you aren't going to get an abscess from suboxone even if you don't use any filters at all and some people don't even bother with cotton since everything is soluble and there is nothing harmful in it.

As for the little cottons, they are neat but I prefer big dense cotton pulled of a q-tip, these are a little tiny for my liking. I like to have to suck the cotton dry. If you just want cottons and whatever else if you send me money for shipping I'll mail you whatever you want from the exchanges that I can get besides needles, and that goes for everyone who can't get to an exchange and wants the extra freebies.

iight sounds good.. well ive got money now but im not sure if all i want is the cottons.. ill take a second look at the stuff you got and ill talk to you about it tomorrow.. ill PM you bout it. Thanks

 

[ashla]

hi all sorry for asking this in here but since it is on needles i have a few questions, i asked in the legal part in blue light but only got one response and no real answer,
ok first i just heard pa has made it legal to go into a pharmacy to buy needles without a script, buttt will you get arrested for paraphanalia
also anyone from pa who could help me i know that this law is up to the discresion of the pharmacist so if you have ever bought needles in pa where are you more likely to get them, wallmart, cvs, riteaid's or little mom and pop pharmacies
if you buy needles does it go on a record or anything, i wouldnt imagine it did by using cash but hey we are in america i never doubt anything like this
i am not worried about what the pharmacist's think of me really i just dont feel like making it like an all day thing looking for them
also how do you ask ? would you go in and tell them the size etc, i dont know anything about that so if someone could give me an idea about that, i dont want those baby points,
havent shot drugs in a very long time and not sure if i want to but when i heard about the new law in pa i figured i might as well know in case i do ever want one i am always one of those people who cant find them , end up using old shitty needles over and over and fucking veins up and also paying alot for them because i dont have a good source to get them

 

[dopiate]

Suboxone is one of the few pill where it really is pretty safe to IV without much filtering, a micron is overkill and useful only if you are making a large batch of solution you need to be sterile and perfect for long term use.

A micron is overkill? You think you can efficiently filter out particles that are 50 times smaller than a human hair with a piece of cotton? When you inject that stuff, you think your body magically extracts it and you poop it out or something. All those particles will build up in your organs.

A micron filter is not overkill. If you must inject buprenorphine, use a micron. This is coming from someone who does.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I just used one of the needles and after getting used to 31Gs these 28s feel like I'm really doing damage to my arms. I also fucked up and tried using the rubber tournequette but couldn't get it undone before pushing the plunger down so I injected with it still tight then when I pulled out I got a nice amount of blood and what looks to be a small 5mm dark bruise from the blood under the skin and only that small since I was able to ice it fast and control it.

I forgot how much I hated those rubber tourniquets especially when you can't get them undone with your teeth, I gotta make sure one end is in my mouth before injecting next time.

Unless you're shooting up with someone else, using a tourniquet to me is really just a pain in the ass. Plus I've never needed to use a tourniquet, though I have used it just to get the technique down. Plus you should practice with putting a tourniquet on and off while pretending you're injecting if you're going to be doing this by yourself. Finally, if you can see/feel several inches on at least 3 to 5 veins on either arm, you definitely don't need to be using a tourniquet.

If you inject more than a few units of liquid, having a tourniquet on and not taking it off before shooting can blow out veins (the pressure will build up in the vein and the liquid won't be able to go past the tourniquet, especially if it's too tight - a tourniquet only needs to be slightly tight enough to present veins for the user) - so if you can't get the tourniquet off, don't bother trying to IV - it's in your best interest (I think you've figured that out now though).

Damn these 28 g needle are a hge difference from 31Gs which are like nothing going in and out. They usually give out 27s too I don't know how people use them. I guess I used 27s and 28s when I was an active heroin addict and my arms were bruised and trackmarkes like hell.

Yeah, personally I think 28's are way too large. Anything larger than a 30 or 31 is more ideal for IMing than IVing IMO. That's why I would suggest to find an exchange which carries up to a 31.

and feeling it as it pushed through the wall of the vein.

Even with a 31G I can feel when it goes through the vein, but you're right - with a larger gauge you can feel it go through the skin and vein easier and louder than a smaller gauge.

I can't imagine using these dull, but I suppose they dull less easy than then tiny needles.

I think they all dull about the same to be honest. I've used and re-used 31G tips before, you can only re-use the tips that aren't lipped really bad but it is doable. It's ideal not to re-use tips of any gauge however.

I picked up a few of these interesting needle sterilizing kits they have for if you're desperate and only have old needles they give you bleech, a cap, sterile water, and instructions on how to sterilize them for reuse if you need to. I think that is a neat idea.

It is, they're being realistic in knowing some people will still reuse needles as hard as they try to convince people not to.

I'm goin gto propose a little kit/instruction sheet on how to make a filter from a used syringe, just a little slip of paper with a diagram and instructions and some cotton tin a cylindrical shape to stuff in a barrel plus maybe sterile water and a cap. i think that would be very worthwhile to have at exchanges, I'm a huge advocate on here and it's the one area that isn't really covered by exchanged in terms of harm reduction. If they can make a needle bleeching kit this would be easier and just as helpful.

Typically that's why they hand out cottons as micron filters will cost too much $ to hand out. You could try to put something together and see what they say about it.

Also I find the little cotton balls with the hole to be too small to be effective. I made them useful by not going through the hole and stack two on the end of a needle like a kabob then draw up. I like slightly bigger cotton for better filtration. these are small things, I'm just seeing now how most people use. I like these metal caps for mixing though, I was using shot glasses and contact lens cases and these are great now.

I use microns now, but when I used the cottons the exchange would give out, I would only need one. They would be for flurazepam, midazolam, or the one time I tried hydromorphone and oxycodone. I didn't see the necessity of using cottons on pure drugs (i.e., ketamine) and other stuff (I would explain here but in the interest of HR I'd rather not).

Micron filters are the shit though, so I have no need for those cottons anymore lol. I'll give them out to others who IV but I don't really know many other IDU's IRL.

I just noticed this. on the sterile plastic water tubes it says


Hmm, they supply them for injection and it seems the next best thing to expensive glass vials of bacteriostatic water. What's the difference really? Side note, after I'm done with one and not IVing anything else for a while I like squeezing out the excess onto my tongue, it's the most tasteless and interesting water I've drank.

It's because there's a small amount of alcohol (not ethanol, but probably benzyl alcohol - could be anything to keep the water sterile really) in it.

I wouldn't drink a lot of it IMO. Not because it would be "bad" for you but because it's just doesn't taste good IME.

LOL - the best part is man, on the bacteriostatic water tubes I got at the exchange it also says

EXP 10-05

ROFL!!! There's even an expiration symbol you see on other IVable products so I know that it really did expire 4 years ago!

I used it for quite some time before I bought bacteriostatic water online, and I'm just fine at the moment. The tubes of water at the exchange are likely safe to use but technically they have to say "not for injection" on there - think about it, any junkie who had an IV complication would just sue the exchange or the company who made the water because "this plastic tubelette said it was OK", etc. That's mainly why that's on there. Using bacteriostatic water from an exchange (even the stuff that expired 4 years ago - what a ghetto exchange I go to I know they're still handing out 4 year old water too) is obviously better than using tap water. I used tap water for a long time as well, and I'm still alive and kickin'. So...yeah.

Glad you went to the exchange man.

When I used the tubelettes of 5ml bacteriostatic water from the exchange I would get 5 of the 27G needles (because I don't use them for IVing I have no use for them anymore - out of K - but that's OK :D) and fill each one up to 100 units (except for the last one which I'd get to about 40 - I was using about 40 units for 2 doses and each tubelette was either about 20 units short or I wasted some in the process of getting the 27G's to 100 units of water), then I'd leave those sitting in a drawer. I'd use up the water within 2 days typically so I felt that it was acceptable.

I know other people probably didn't think that far into it, I know some people would have just left the tube sitting (open) somewhere until they needed it again. IMO that's probably not the best idea.

If you want to just waste what you're not going to use that works too man because it looks like you got lots of sterile water.

That's cool, especially if you live close to an exchange. I live 3 hours away from the closest one.

I wish there were exchanges around where I live.. I could always go back to manchester nh and go to one there but im up in maine for now and i doubt there are any around here.

Actually, according to a quick search, you have SEVEN you LUCKY FUCKER. I have ZERO and am living in a state as large as yours is.

All I really want are those little cottons for filtering.. ive got needles and everything else I need to be safe. like rubbing alcohol pads and shit like that.. but I only IV once in a blue moon and b4 i do next time im getting micron filters.. cuz it'll be subs that ill be shooting and I DONT want an absess... I hope I dont miss :/

Yeah just get micron filters.

hi all sorry for asking this in here but since it is on needles i have a few questions, i asked in the legal part in blue light but only got one response and no real answer,
ok first i just heard pa has made it legal to go into a pharmacy to buy needles without a script, buttt will you get arrested for paraphanalia
also anyone from pa who could help me i know that this law is up to the discresion of the pharmacist so if you have ever bought needles in pa where are you more likely to get them, wallmart, cvs, riteaid's or little mom and pop pharmacies
if you buy needles does it go on a record or anything, i wouldnt imagine it did by using cash but hey we are in america i never doubt anything like this
i am not worried about what the pharmacist's think of me really i just dont feel like making it like an all day thing looking for them
also how do you ask ? would you go in and tell them the size etc, i dont know anything about that so if someone could give me an idea about that, i dont want those baby points,
havent shot drugs in a very long time and not sure if i want to but when i heard about the new law in pa i figured i might as well know in case i do ever want one i am always one of those people who cant find them , end up using old shitty needles over and over and fucking veins up and also paying alot for them because i dont have a good source to get them

I don't live in PA Ashla, but if you buy needles OTC here, they want you to write in a register your name, address, stuff like that. They don't really confirm it and only ask to see ID to make sure you're over 18 (if you're old enough they probably wouldn't even ask for your ID). If you do have to sign a register and they don't have your liscence anymore, you can really put whatever name/address you want to. Most of the time they're not trying to bust you on stupid shit. The address on your liscence doesn't have to be your current one (or if it is they don't have to know that! )

Hope you find it easy dealing with pharmacists Ashla. It's still legal to buy needles OTC here and I know it won't happen for me - all the pharmacists in this state (unless you get lucky) fucking suck balls and don't know state law at all (or they lie and they're just that much worse off karma wise for having lied to people).

A micron is overkill? You think you can efficiently filter out particles that are 50 times smaller than a human hair with a piece of cotton? When you inject that stuff, you think your body magically extracts it and you poop it out or something. All those particles will build up in your organs.

A micron filter is not overkill. If you must inject buprenorphine, use a micron. This is coming from someone who does.

Yeah I wouldn't say a micron is overkill. I think it's pretty necessary. I didn't use one for a long time, and I'm still a very healthy person. I don't find it hard to exercise (long distance walking, or running a mile, stuff like that) and I don't have problems with anything I didn't have issues with BEFORE I started heroin even. So I am pretty sure I'm OK (minus whatever has accumulated in my lungs from the few times I tried something w/ talc or w/e). If you make a habit of not using micron filters for years is when it catches up with you I am sure. It may not take as long depending on what you're using, how often you use it, etc.

 

[dopiate]

All I know is I am very in tune with my body and after 1 month of injecting 2mg of subutex a day carefully, I was experiencing chest pains and they went away when I started using microns.

And I'm thoroghly jealous of anyone who gets 31G needles fro
their SEP. I buy all mine now because 28G ones just tear me up. I found a really good online source for 31G BD's that is atleast 50% of anywhere else with free ship: canadadrugs.com if anyone wants, 14.99/box.

 

[bagochina]

Im not positive on that tho cuz ive never been to one.. but ive heard of people getting needle exchange cards of some kind.

Years ago when syringes controlled more they used to give needle exchange cards in Chicago, who knows they still might. [Any Positive Change] I recall being pulled over a few times when needles were found and I showed them the card and was not ticketed, that was in the ghetto though. Once I was written a ticket for poss. of a hypodermic it was easily dropped in court w/ a lawyer. Overall I remember the cards not being dependable.

I remember the RV they would drive into the ghetto and park near known dope spots. Easy access for sure, never any hassles when exchanging.

Peace,
Seedless

 

[Captain.Heroin]

All I know is I am very in tune with my body and after 1 month of injecting 2mg of subutex a day carefully, I was experiencing chest pains and they went away when I started using microns.

And I'm thoroghly jealous of anyone who gets 31G needles fro
their SEP. I buy all mine now because 28G ones just tear me up. I found a really good online source for 31G BD's that is atleast 50% of anywhere else with free ship: canadadrugs.com if anyone wants, 14.99/box.

That's whats up man. I'll have to try that site.

My exchange doesn't "normally" carry 31's but I got lucky once and they had 600 31G's I was so happy. Plus they did home delivery for 31's a few times but now I think they are going to want us to show up on a specific day to get the large quantity of 31's I need, so I'm still planning for that day.

I might buy some to tide me over.