This document provides tips for safer injection practices to minimize harm to veins and reduce health risks. It discusses vein care, proper injection technique, risky injection spots to avoid, and signs of potential complications like hitting a nerve or artery. The goal is to educate people who inject drugs about caring for their veins and passing on harm reduction information to others.

1. Vein Care & SaferVein Care & Safer
Injection TipsInjection Tips
Sanjay Kumar KulchaniaSanjay Kumar Kulchania
(LECTURER)(LECTURER)
GURU NANAK COLLEGE OFGURU NANAK COLLEGE OF
NURSING ,DHAHAN KALERANNURSING ,DHAHAN KALERAN

2. Vein Care & Safer InjectionVein Care & Safer Injection
TipsTips
ForFor
peoplepeople
who workwho work
withwith
injectioninjection
drug

3. Expectations and HopesExpectations and Hopes
Provide accurate informationProvide accurate information
Improve knowledgeImprove knowledge
Increase comfortIncrease comfort
Create opportunity to decreaseCreate opportunity to decrease
shame and stigmashame and stigma
Encourage in-depth conversationEncourage in-depth conversation

4. Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
What isWhat is Vein Care?Vein Care?
How the circulatory system worksHow the circulatory system works
Injection risksInjection risks
Tips for injectors to minimizeTips for injectors to minimize
damagedamage
Vein Care AssistanceVein Care Assistance

5. What isWhat is Vein Care?Vein Care?
Vein Care aims to decrease the damage
one does to their veins by injecting drugs
through education and counseling.
Thereby reducing their chances of
becoming infected with or passing on
various communicable diseases.

6. “...Vein Care is not meant to be
prescriptive or exhaustive about the
practice of injection, merely a beginning
to what is a bountiful set of options for
improvement and a tool for overcoming
the damage caused by silence and shame
around injection.”
Chicago Recovery Alliance Website:
www.anypositivechange.org
Disclaimer...Disclaimer...

7.  Aid in the prevention of Abscesses,Aid in the prevention of Abscesses,
Cellulitis and other skin/soft tissueCellulitis and other skin/soft tissue
infections caused by improper injection.infections caused by improper injection.
Goals of Vein Care CounselingGoals of Vein Care Counseling
 Give clients the knowledge and power toGive clients the knowledge and power to
pass on to other injectors.pass on to other injectors.

8. A strong, muscular pump
(a little larger than a fist) that pumps
blood continuously through the
circulatory system.

9. All-in-VeinAll-in-Vein
Blood VesselsBlood Vessels are soft,
elastic tubes such as
arteries, veins and
capillaries in the
cardiovascular system
VeinsVeins are made of several
thin layers of muscle
tissue; they carry blood to
the heart, then is pumped
to the lungs so oxygen
can be replenished, and
sent back to the heart to
be pumped into general
circulation in arteriesarteries

10. VeinsVeins
carry bloodcarry blood
fromfrom
variousvarious
parts of theparts of the
body backbody back
to the heartto the heart
ArteriesArteries
carry bloodcarry blood
away from theaway from the
heart.heart.
ArteriesArteries vs.vs. VeinsVeins

11. What is a Vein Valve?What is a Vein Valve?
Valves are flaps of
tissue in veins that
help bring the blood
back up to the
heart, by acting as
a one-way door.
Valves are found
along the length of
the vein. Injecting
into a valve is the
most common
reason for missing
a hit or collapsing a
vein or not getting a
“flag”

12. Abnormal Valves...Abnormal Valves...
““Ropy”Ropy”

13. Why Should I Use a “Tie?”Why Should I Use a “Tie?”
Using a tourniquet
makes the veins on the
surface get bigger, and
easier to hit!
•Be careful not to tie the tourniquet too tight...it actually
works against you because it stops the blood from getting in.
•Using a Tie regularly helps keep your veins flexible and in
good shape, thus making less scar tissue. Exercise those
veins!

14. Dilute your Dope!Dilute your Dope!
More Dilute = Happier VeinsMore Dilute = Happier Veins

15. Where Should I Inject?Where Should I Inject?
OK!OK!
SAFER!SAFER!
Arms are best-Arms are best-
easier accesseasier access
= safer= safer
injectioninjection

16. Proper TechniqueProper Technique
NeedleNeedle positionposition
•Make sure the Bevel of the needle is up.Make sure the Bevel of the needle is up.
•Position the needle at a 30-45° anglePosition the needle at a 30-45° angle
(depends on how deep the vein is.)(depends on how deep the vein is.)
•Align the syringe with vein.Align the syringe with vein.
•Follow the natural blood flow of the vein.Follow the natural blood flow of the vein.
•Inserting the needle through the vein.Inserting the needle through the vein.
•Injecting without releasing the tourniquetInjecting without releasing the tourniquet
or not using one at all.or not using one at all.
•Injecting in the vein against the flow of blood.Injecting in the vein against the flow of blood.
Common Mistakes & Poor InjectionCommon Mistakes & Poor Injection
Habits:Habits:

17. Deep Vein ThrombosisDeep Vein Thrombosis
Thrombosis is the clotting of
blood in an artery or vein
resulting in partial or complete
blockage of blood circulation in
the affected area.
•Repeated injecting may cause inflammation of the vein which
may lead to Deep Vein Thrombosis.
•The secondary risk of DVT is a piece of the clot breaks off
(embolism) and blocks a blood vessel further along which may
lead to stroke or pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs.)

18. Risks of hitting a nerve?Risks of hitting a nerve?
If you hit a nerve pull out and applyIf you hit a nerve pull out and apply
pressure,pressure,
thenthen seek medical attentionseek medical attention right away!right away!
Hitting a nerve can cause permanent nerveHitting a nerve can cause permanent nerve
damage which can lead to complete ordamage which can lead to complete or
partial paralysis of the affected area.partial paralysis of the affected area.
You will know that you hit a nerve if youYou will know that you hit a nerve if you
feel “electric” pain orfeel “electric” pain or
involuntary movement (reflex).involuntary movement (reflex).

19. Risky Injection SpotsRisky Injection Spots
VERYVERY
RISKY!RISKY!
TORSOTORSO
More likely to
permanently
damage
lymph vessels
or nodes.
RISKY!RISKY!
NECKNECK
Injecting in the veins
in your neck can
cause deadly
infections in the
brain. Arteries and
Nerves travel very
close to the veins in
your neck.
Using the veins in yourUsing the veins in your
feet, legs or groin,feet, legs or groin,
increases your risk forincreases your risk for
Deep Vein ThrombosisDeep Vein Thrombosis
(blood-clots) causing(blood-clots) causing
blockage to vital areas inblockage to vital areas in
the body, as the bloodthe body, as the blood
returns back to the heartreturns back to the heart..
GROINGROIN (Femoral(Femoral
v.)v.)
FEETFEET
LEGSLEGS
CHESTCHEST

20. What if I hit an artery?What if I hit an artery?
If you hit an artery,If you hit an artery, pull outpull out and putand put directdirect
pressurepressure on it for at leaston it for at least 20 minutes20 minutes (use tape and(use tape and
gauze if you have it)gauze if you have it) ..
If the bleeding does not stop,If the bleeding does not stop,
ggo to theo to the Emergency RoomEmergency Room right away.right away.

21. Avoid Abscesses!!!Avoid Abscesses!!!
Always wash your hands (and injection site if possible)Always wash your hands (and injection site if possible)
with warm soapy water.with warm soapy water.
Use a new syringe every time you inject.Use a new syringe every time you inject.
Use an alcohol pad to move the dirt and germs awayUse an alcohol pad to move the dirt and germs away
from the injection site by moving it outwardfrom the injection site by moving it outward
in a circular fashion from the center.in a circular fashion from the center.
Abscess is an infection under the skin caused byAbscess is an infection under the skin caused by
the needle pushing the bacteria through the skin.the needle pushing the bacteria through the skin.
Apply firm, steady pressure after the injection.Apply firm, steady pressure after the injection.
Use a band aid or tape & gauze if you have it.Use a band aid or tape & gauze if you have it.

22. Talk to the Needle Exchange Vein Care Specialist!
2nd & 4th Tuesday every month, here at the Downtown Needle Exchange
Whip those
troublesome
veinsinto shape!
See Jason,See Jason,
Vein CareVein Care
SpecialistSpecialist
EveryEvery
WednesdayWednesday
Vein Care Workshops at theVein Care Workshops at the
Downtown Needle ExchangeDowntown Needle Exchange

23. QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?