Social Pharmacy

Stage I: experimentation

Stage II: recreational use

Stage III: problematic use

Stage IV: addiction

Hydrochloride: soluble, injected

Freebase: lower bp, less soluble, vaporised and inhaled

Marijuana: up to 10% THC

Hashish: up to 15% THC

Oil: up to 30% THC

• Ecstacy
• LSD
• Heroin
• Cocaine
• Crack
• Magic mushrooms
• Amphetamines (if prepped for injection)

• Amphetamines
• Methamphetamine
• Pholcodine
• Cannabis

• Buprenorphine
• Tranquilisers
• Some painkillers
• GHB
• Ketamine

• OD
• HIV/other infections
• Damage to veins
• Physical dependence leading to crime

• Needle exchanges
• Education
• Provide clean, sterile paraphenalia
• Accept return of used equipment for safe disposal

• Mix the freebase with ascorbic or citric acid (vinegar too strong and lemon juice has a risk of fungal infection) with water (ideally wfi but if not possible then clean e.g. bottled)
• Heat in a "cooker" (spoon held over a lighter)
• Draw through a filter into a syringe to remove particles (ensure the filter will not shed particles into syringe)
• Locate the vein (get to know arm to avoid valves), use a tourniquet, insert needle into vein and draw up some blood
• Inject the drug
• Withdraw the needle

• Can:
• Sterile "cookers"
• Citric acid (100mg sachets)
• Ascorbic acid (100mg sachets)
• Filters
• Alcohol swabs
• Water for injections

• Can't:
• Tourniquets
• Lighters
• Matches
• Night lights

• Do:
• Wash your hands
• Use sterile equipment
• Prepare on a clean disposible surface
• Use your own cooker and filter
• Use the smallest amount of acid
• Reduce the amount of drug after a period of abstinence

• Don't:
• Use more than one drug
• Use lemon juice or vinegar
• Crush tablets

• Peripheral veins are safer than deep veins
• It's better to have several injection sites and rotate them

Avoid femoral vein and veins in the breast, neck or penis

• Use the smallest needle
• Use a tourniquet to identify vein and release prior to injecting
• Inject on the line of the vein towards the heart
• Use a shallow angle
• Inject slowly
• Apply pressure to site

Do not share equipment or inject alone

• Pre-contemplation
• Contemplation
• Determination to stop
• Action
• Maintenance
• Relapse

• Short term:
• Flu like - sweating, chills, piloerection
• Muscle twitching
• Diarrhoea
• Agitation
• Insomnia

• Long term:
• Anorexia
• Insomnia
• Lethargy
• Craving

Stage I: Maintenance - replace drug with legal alternative on Rx

Stage II: Withdrawal - aim to become drug free