Heroin Vein damage from injecting bth

[Peel]

Hey all

About 3 months ago I first tried heroin, and starting about 2 months I began injecting black tar about 4-8 times/week. I wasn't taught totally proper safety techniques initially, so the learning process was a bit damaging to my veins, I'm sure. After educating myself much further I find myself only using 1-2 times per week, as I don't want to risk the greater damages of heavier use.

Anyways, the veins in m let arm look rather unhealthy and spidery. Before, the were ticker and healthier looking. I've had a few minor abscesses in the arm, and about a week ago I got a pretty decent size one, which is about 70% gone currently. My question is that, could sub-par injection methods, coupled with black tars damaging nature, have damaged an entire system (or part of it) of veins in my arm? Should I be concerned, and is it worth seeking medical attention for it?

 

[tricomb]

Are you using micron filtration? With black tar heroin, there is absolutely no excuse for not using micron filters, that shit is so damn disgusting, even after micron filtration the solution looks like strained diarrhea, but it's a helluva lot better than using cotton of any kind...

If you used proper filtration and never reused needles, you would not have lost your veins so rapidly. Definitely seek immediate medical attention if you notice a fever or worsening of the IV site / abscessed areas.

 

[Peel]

Thanks for the quick reply

No, I actually have not used a micron filter before, though I have some in the mail my way currently. I use a synringe loaded with cottons as a method of filtration. The solution I inject is a clear, brown/yellow tinted solution. However, I have only really started during this the past several times I've shot up. Before that I only used a cotton to filter.

I have reused my needles on one or two occasions. Several times I've also rinsed my cottons, when I was less aware of the risks assassinated with it

 

[Mr.Scagnattie]

You are damaging individual veins, not your entire circulatory system.

BTH is notoriously bad on the veins, especially coupled with poor technique.

Have you read our IV megathread (link in my signature)? It has a lot of good info on proper technique.

 

[laCster]

i agree with tricomb, but almost all heroin users out there dont use a micron filter to be honest. get one if you can, and if you cant, atleast use a clean needle everytime. some easier supplies to carry around are neosporin and alcohol swabs. alcohol swab to clean the injection site before going in, and neosporin to help the injection site heal up afterwards.

definitely go see a doctor ASAP. abscesses always need medical attention, you definitely dont want to be like harry from requiem for a dream.

 

[edarrin]

^ yep.

Protect your veins now or you will have a short 'career '(for lack of a better term). Take it from a long timer. Eventually you will be completely unable to IV. The idea is to prolong the inevitable.

Of course it is best to , at minimum, take the filtering advice, or just find something else to do. It will only go one direction otherwise......downhill.

 

[shroomster]

You jumped in the game very fast. You should err on the side of caution with this lifestyle.

Use a fresh rig for every injection, always use a sterile injection site/spoon/etc. Rotate injection spots.

Consider reevaluating IV drug use. I'm definitely biased, as I've already made a decade of it for myself (clean now), but it's generally a downward spiral. If youre a couple months in and you think your arms are looking weird, wait until they're not visible at all - it's no fun spending an hour hunting for a vein, then MISSING your shot. You're still fresh enough in the game that it won't be so tough. Mark my words that the longer you use, no matter the substance, the tougher it is to quit


Of course, I say this understanding what I'm suggesting isn't so easy. Just be careful, bud.

 

[Peel]

Thank you all for the advice; even though the abscess isn't visible anymore, I'm going to schedule something in the next week or so to possibly get some antibiotics and get it checked out. I haven't touched a needle in about 10 days, without much of an issue, though I've smoked tar on two occasions in that period. I've never used another person's needles (yuck), though I've reused my own once or twice, which I wouldn't think to do again. I don't have to much of a desire to IV this crap because of the many risks associated to it. Anyways, here on the west coast I've been lucky enough to find a very good quality number 4 alternative to black tar heroin, so I don't need to think twice about staying away from IV'ing tar... though I really love the rush I get from all that 6-MAM