- Get 2 cups and fill them with water
- Fill the syringe with water from one cup and wait 30 seconds. Throw out that water and cup.
- Empty the syringe and fill it with bleach. Wait 30 seconds before rinsing it out.
- Refill the syringe with bleach two more times. Wait at least 30 seconds before rinsing.
- Fill the syringe with water from the second container several times. This will get rid of the bleach.
Shooting Drugs
Making needles safe from HIV and other STIs
One way to avoid getting HIV is to not use drugs or share needles. You should use a new, clean needle if possible. If clean needles and “works” aren’t available, you have to know how to clean them. Cleaning needles will kill any HIV virus on the needle.
Shooting Drugs and HIV
Sharing drug equipment such as needles or syringes is any easy way to get HIV. When you inject the drug in your skin, blood will come up the needle. When you share someone’s needle and it hasn’t been cleaned, the blood left in the needle will be injected into you. This is how people get infected.
You don’t have to inject drugs like heroin, cocaine, or speed. Sharing needles for injecting steroids could also infect you.
If you shoot up drugs and share needles, there is a big risk for getting HIV and other infections like hepatitis B and C.