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Harm reduction

Harm reduction tips and guidelines for users and those who support them.

Short URL: kingcounty.gov/harm-reduction

Public Health is addressing the opioid epidemic as we would any other health issue—working with partners to prevent overdoses, increasing access to treatment, and providing harm reduction services to reduce the health impacts for people with substance use disorder.

Abscesses

An abscess is a pocket of pus which means you have an infection. What causes an abscess? Drug shooters often get abscesses on their arms or legs at injection sites.

Opiate overdose

Facts about opiate overdose including staying visible, watching your mix, halve the hit. Learn what to do when someone overdoses, what not to do and when to call 9-1-1.

Clostridium

Injecting heroin that contains Clostridium can cause serious infection and even death. There is no way to know which heroin has the bacteria and which does not.

Cotton fever

Cotton fever is probably not caused by cotton fibers. It's more likely caused by bacteria that live in the cotton. Cotton can grow a lot of bacteria, especially after it gets wet.

Crystal meth

For some men, crystal meth is an integral part of gay culture and their personal, social and sexual identities. Unfortunately, it also plays an undeniable role in the rise of HIV, STDs, and addiction in our community.

Endocarditis

Bacterial endocarditis is an infection in the lining or valves of your heart. Bacteria get into the blood is by using needles that aren't sterile.

Heroin overdose deaths

King County has seen an unusual rise in heroin-related deaths. To learn more, see the media release (159 KB) and Public Health Warning for heroin users (28 KB), both issued March 6, 2012.

Muscling and skin popping

Muscling is when you inject into muscle instead of a vein. Skin-popping is when you inject between skin and fat layers. Muscling and skin-popping allow germs to "sit" inside muscle and fat tissue or under the skin. These are great places for abscesses and other infections to brew.

Exposed points are dangerous

Exposed points are really dangerous. So are broken-off points. They are hard to see and can easily get lost in clothes, carpets, couches, wherever.

Don't share needles

Sharing works is the same as sharing blood. This happens when you share rigs with someone else.

Syringe disinfection

Syringe disinfection has been a part of HIV prevention efforts for injection drug users (IDUs). This fact sheet presents basic information on disinfection, especially bleach disinfection. The central message is that disinfection is a back-up prevention strategy if the user cannot stop injecting; does not have a new, sterile syringe; and is about to inject with a syringe that has been used before.

Use new needles every time you inject

Use a brand-new needle every time you inject. See microscopic photos of needle tips as they deteriorate after repeated use. Reusing needles increases your chances of getting abscesses, infections and blown veins.

How to best find a vein

Tips from Jason - That Vein Care Guy on how to best find a vein and using syringes.

Syringe access and disposal

Wound botulism in heroin users

Injecting heroin that contains the botulism bacteria can cause serious infection and even death.

Talking to your partner about their addiction

It's tough enough when a friend has a problem with drugs or alcohol. It's even more complicated when your partner does. It's simply harder to see things objectively or to separate yourself from the effect of your partner's addiction when you're so emotionally, physically, and often financially intertwined. He needs help, and you need help. So who's left to help the relationship?

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Learn how, and where, to safely and legally dispose of sharps.
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