Heroin Typical injection sites for IV'ing heroin..

[moonshield06]

Hey all. Well, for the past 3 months or so I've been doing iv'd dope, however I've been having my connect do it for me 95% of the time. This past week I've done it myself flawlessly about 5 times, so I'm pretty comfortable doing it now. I've always been using the main vein in my right arm above my elbow. I really would like to switch it up due to the fact I always have an extremely hard time trying to pull back/check for blood when I'm doing it myself in that spot, since it's hard to stretch my thumb enough to pull back and I'm always afraid I may move out of the vein by having to fuck around with my grip on the rig.

So basically I'm still new to injecting. What are some of the easier veins to use? I did search for this, but I admit I didn't really search too hard. I found a couple posts pertaining to iv heroin use but nothing in detail as to what veins are good for this. Are the veins on the back of my hand eligible for this? What about feet? I really could use the pointers guys as I really don't want to fuck up this vein in my arm. Yesterday I had to pull back out and push the needle in again and by doing so, I have a little bump with some blood under the skin on the injection site. It does not hurt to the touch, and it's very small and shrinking as the days go by.

And please, don't get on me about stopping intravenous drug use. I know it leads to a whole new world of trouble, but I will be done with opiates in about 2 weeks since I will be going back to my suboxone doctor and getting put back on a high dose. For those interested, I had kicked all opiates for over a year thanks to suboxone, but started back up 2 months after I had stopped taking subs. After this run, I will be done for good since I'm moving out of the area and will lose my connects. Just wanting some harm reduction here, which this site is best for.

Thanks a bunch. If anyone has pictures or instructions, please post them up. And if this can go into another thread, my apologies and a mod can move my post.

Thanks BL.

 

[mav3rick]

Hey Moonshield..

There's a bunch'o'posts about good spots to use, the heroin megathread totally rocks, so go check that out!

To help you with your query, I'm an IV speed user but I don't reckon DOC matters here haha it's all about the needle.. I use the cephalic vein which runs up the lateral side of the arm from the hand to the shoulder. I switch sides but shooting into my left is easier because I'm right handed. I'm pretty certain the cephalic is what you'd be using too. Honestly, that vein is the 'easiest'. For me, it just took practice. I'm a girl and I don't have big hands so I hold it closer to the plunger to start with at around the '80 units' mark on a 1ml syringe. I use the back of my pointer finger to pull back once I'm in the vein to release a tiny bit of blood then I use my pointer finger again to push the plunger down.. Also, try and avoid the feet and legs, the circulation isn't so flash..

I guess it's all about a steady hand and a bit of practice

Again, check out the megathreads for hella rad info, people have spent ages making them so lovely!

Peace out, Mav

 

[Pegasus]

Check out the IV link in my signature (first one), it will give you the relative harm rating for injecting in different spots. The spots that the link says are high risk, I advise against even contemplating. The sites that are ranked moderately risky are still pretty risky, and any more risk than that IMO is defying harm reduction.

If you're new to this, the crook of your arm is where you want to start. Be sure to rotate injection sites if you are injecting multiple times. Micron filtering is highly advised, especially considering the impurities and bacteria that are likely present and would be removed by the micron filter (most impurities). For pictures of the angle at which to insert the needle and maps of the veins of the arms, etc, follow the link in my sig below (first link, entitled "Proper IV technique")

 

[moonshield06]

Thanks guys. The Cephalic vein is what I've been using. At the crook of the elbow. The "usual" spot for most people. What I was trying to do is find another spot besides that one that would make using the rig while registering a bit easier. It's just to hard for me to use one finger to pull the plunger back. It could of also been because the shot I just did was with a brand new syringe, but it seemed to require a good bit of force to pull it back in the barrel. It was a 1/2cc 1/2in 28g rig, with only about 30-35 units of solution, but I just could not reach my thumb up far enough to comfortably move the plunger up. I could push it down fine, but not up comfortably.

Maybe it's all about how I'm holding the syringe itself. Because when I try to push the plunger up while I'm in the vein to check for blood, my fingers slip on the barrel of the rig. I'm just finding it hard to master, and because of it...it always makes me concerned that when checking for blood, I could be moving the rig out of the vein, even after I've established I'm in, and just firing the shot into the muscle. Idk. Hard to explain.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I would try to use smaller gauged needles if you are going to try using any veins that are smaller (i.e. wrist veins).

And, unless you are deliberately trying to IM your shot, I doubt that is where the shot is ending up.

 

[Roger8176]

Hello, I just found this site tonight. It looks pretty cool. Anyways, I've been injecting for 10 years now (with about 6 months off a few years ago while on Methadone) and nothing is worse than not being able to hit a vein (except for not having anything at all I suppose) and after doing tar for any considerable length of time that is a very common situation.

I'm sure many a doctor would say that I'm very wrong, but in my experience any vein that you can see (ie creates an elevation in your skin) is fine to use. Back of hands is great, arms are great, be careful with the tops of your feet though. It can be done, but there can be bad reactions there too. Like having your foot swell up so much that a shoe won't fit on it. If you end up having to go deeper always make sure and just push the smallest amount in and wait for a few seconds after it registers so you are sure you aren't in an artery. Pushing normal amounts into some of your arteries (like by your wrist) can cause excruciating pain.

The main factor on where to go is pretty much how good your veins are to begin with. For example girls and overweight people naturally usually have more difficulty that than wirey guys.

Over the last two and a half years I have discovered two of the main veins in my body that can be hit, but they are on the dangerous (femoral vein) to very dangerous (jugular vein) list. However, getting over a years worth of tar (with meth occasionally) hits from one vein is nothing short of a miracle.

I hope you stick with your plan to have this be your last two weeks. Good Luck.

 

[moonshield06]

I'm definitely not trying to IM any of my shots. I use a 28g needle which really is perfect for the size of my veins. It's not so much getting into the veins that hard, it's just being able to pull up on the plunger while I'm already in to check for blood. Obviously I only have one hand to work with, and I have small fingers as well since I'm a skinny guy. I just haven't truly gotten the technique down as to how to hold the syringe. It's getting slightly better, keep in mind I've only shot myself up maybe 4 times as of now. The rest of the time I had my very good friend whose been addicted for 10+ years do it for me flawlessly every time. The good thing is so far I haven't truly missed any shots, and I've only been left with a small match head sized bump at the injection site that goes away in an hour or so, and is never sore to the touch. So I guess I'm doing something right. I researched a ton and paid very close attention to my friend when he did me up every time.

When I'm in, I reach up with my thumb and try to push the plunger up, and sometimes my hand is in such an awkward position that it makes it quite difficult to do so. Especially since when I shoot, I check for blood about 2-3 times before I push all of the dope in. I usually push in about 20 units, pull up, another 20, pull up, and push to the bottom and done. I heard this is the proper way of doing it. When I say pull up, I'm never actually taking the needle out of my vein.

Basically I was just looking for an area that would let me have access to both of my hands when shooting, but it looks like those spots can be a bit too dangerous for a new comer like myself. I'll eventually master the technique. Just takes a bit of practice, and this site helps a ton too. I've been here for a little while now, came here when I was first getting into my Oxycodone addiction a couple years back. Wonderful site we have here.

And yes, in two weeks I will be completely done. Will be going back on 16mg suboxone a day and will be tapering as quickly as possible. I love the rush of heroin, but I really enjoyed my life being clean as well. Can't wait to have it back. Only reason I stopped was complications due to my insurance and simply not being able to afford the dr visits and the price of prescriptions. Got my insurance lined up again and things will be MUCH cheaper this go around. Right now, I'm just taking it easy. I only do about .3 a day which is pretty cheap for me. I'm taking advantage of my lower tolerance as of right now. With the dope I get, .1 iv'd sends me into la-la land for several hours. And I have an oxycodone tolerance of about 120mg snorted. So it must be pretty good lol.

 

[Georgie25]

Another big vein and easy spot in the top of your arm above the wrist there's a big vein that runs down from your thumb and right side of your left wrist, opposite for other arm.

 

[HeroinGoblin]

try gripping the rig like you were holding a pipe than use the top of your thumb and lift up that way. Also theres 2 diff veins in the crook of your elbow, theres also a ton of veins on your forarm n hands just try taking a hot shower and tie off and see which vein looks good =] good luck, be safe.

 

[Znegative]

Another big vein and easy spot in the top of your arm above the wrist there's a big vein that runs down from your thumb and right side of your left wrist, opposite for other arm.

YO! I LOVE THAT VEIN!!

also, if you turn your palm so it's facing up, there's tons of great veins running from your wrist up your arm. They roll, so you got to either spear them, or readjust your angle and push in if you don't register at first.. The trick is to get used to the rolling ones.

Also, I wouldn't use my thumb. I use my middle and index to pull up the plunger and then push down with my index. this works perfectly if you have the needle facing the right way, with the hole up.

 

[specneck]

I used to pull up on the plunger as it was going in so it would create some 'negative pressure' within the barrel. That way as soon as you hit a vein it would register and you can push away.


Definitely change up the locations, it not only saves you from track marks, it also saves your veins a little. Every time you introduce the needle to a vein youre creating an interruption in the otherwise very smooth lining of the vein walls which eventually become coagulated and thats how you collapse a vein.. And they hurt. And suck. Especially when you ruin your fave one.

 

[HeroinGoblin]

theres always the veins on your junkhaha just kidding. i couldn't imagine if you got an infection like a abbsess or something down there. i would have to drown myself hahaha. also, if your really despratge the vein in your neck gives an amazing rush when used. I would never use that vein very often but hey when your sick you do what you gotta do.