Does Injecting Steroids Put Me at Risk for HIV?

Yes! At the start of every intravenous injection, blood is introduced
into needles and syringes. HIV can be found in the blood of a person
infected with the virus. The reuse of a blood-contaminated needle or
syringe by another drug injector (sometimes called "direct syringe
sharing") carries a high risk of HIV transmission because infected
blood can be injected directly into the bloodstream.
In addition, sharing drug equipment (or "works") can be a risk for
spreading HIV.
Infected blood can be introduced into drug solutions by
• using blood-contaminated syringes to prepare drugs;
• reusing water;
• reusing bottle caps, spoons, or other containers ("spoons"
and "cookers") used to dissolve drugs in water and to heat drug
solutions; or
• reusing small pieces of cotton or cigarette filters ("cottons")
used to filter out particles that could block the needle.
"Street sellers" of syringes may repackage used syringes and sell
them as sterile syringes. For this reason, people who continue to
inject drugs should obtain syringes from reliable sources of sterile
syringes, such as needle exchange programs or pharmacies. It is
important to know that sharing a needle or syringe for any use,
including injecting steroids, can put your at risk for HIV and other
blood-borne infections.



How can people who use injection drugs (and that includes steroids)
reduce their risk for HIV infection?
The CDC recommends that people who inject drugs should be regularly
counseled to
• stop using and injecting drugs.
• enter and complete substance abuse treatment, including relapse
prevention.

For injection drug users who cannot or will not stop injecting drugs,
the following steps may be taken to reduce personal and public health
risks:
• Never reuse or "share" syringes, water, or drug preparation
equipment.
• Only use syringes obtained from a reliable source (such as
pharmacies or needle exchange programs).
• Use a new, sterile syringe to prepare and inject drugs.
• If possible, use sterile water to prepare drugs; otherwise, use
clean water from a reliable source (such as fresh tap water).
• Use a new or disinfected container ("cooker") and a new filter
("cotton") to prepare drugs.
• Clean the injection site prior to injection with a new alcohol
swab. ·
• Safely dispose of syringes after one use.
If new, sterile syringes and other drug preparation and injection
equipment are not available, then previously used equipment should be
boiled in water or disinfected with bleach before reuse.


If you have any questions about HIV/AIDS, you can call our office 570-
322-8448 and talk to our staff. ALL CALLS ARE KEPT STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL.



Some of the information herein was reproduced with permission from
stophiv.com. AIDS Resource is funded in part through a grant with
the PA Dept of Health. The Department specifically denies
responsibility for any claims made herein.