Terry's case: A Youth at Risk

You chose 2: that is incorrect.

The correct answer is 4. All of the above

How does Terry prepare his drugs for injection?

Does he use his own sterile water (or powdered vitamin C) to dissolve or "cook" his drugs (rather than vinegar, shared water or non-sterile water)?

Does he use his own clean spoon or "cooker"?
Does he filter his injections with his own fresh cotton?

How does Terry prepare the injection site?

Does he clean the injection site with alcohol or soap and water?

Does Terry inject alone or with others?

Are others present when he injects so that help can be summoned in case of overdose or emergency?

If Terry answered yes to all of the above questions it would indicate that he follows safer injection practices. However it's dangerous to assume that an active injection drug user (IDU) such as Terry is not at risk for infectious diseases. Remember that Terry presented with an arm phlebitis - possibly a result of non-sterile injection practices. Also keep in mind that Terry could possibly have shared injection equipment while being too "stoned" to remember.

The elimination of injection drug use is the ideal, but is not always attainable. If a person continues to use injection drugs, HARM REDUCTION strategies, such as safer injection practices are recommended.

You should take this opportunity to review safer and sterile injection practises with Terry.

To learn more about making injection drug use safer, click here.