Protect Yourself If You Inject Drugs

Never Share Needles, Syringes, or Other Drug Injection Equipment

• Use new, clean syringes and injection equipment every time you inject.
• Many communities have syringe services programs (SSPs) where you can get new needles and syringes and safely dispose of used ones.
• Some pharmacies sell needles without a prescription.
• Find an SSP near you.

Take PrEP

• PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent HIV.
• If taken as prescribed, PrEP is highly effective for preventing HIV from injection drug use.
• PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken as prescribed.
• Find out if PrEP is right for you.

Don’t Have Sex When You’re High on Drugs

• You’re more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors.
• If you do have sex, use condoms the right way every time.
• Learn the right way to use an external condom (sometimes called a male condom) and an internal condom (sometimes called a female condom).

If You Do Share Needles, Syringes, or Other Drug Injection Equipment, Use Bleach to Clean Them

• A disinfected syringe is not as good as a new, sterile syringe, but it can greatly reduce your risk for HIV and viral hepatitis.
• Learn how to clean your syringes [PDF – 268 KB].

Decide Not to Inject Drugs

•  This is the best way to prevent getting HIV through injection drug use.
• Talk with a counselor, doctor, or other health care provider about treatment for substance use disorder, including medication-assisted treatment.