Here are a few pointers for all of my IV users out there, and for anyone considering trying it in the future. Vein care is so critical and unfortunately I learned this after destroying most of my veins in my arms :(
Vein tips for the IV drug user:


- always check to make sure you are not shooting into an artery by feeling for a pulse before inserting the needle. Veins have no pulse, arteries do.
- try to always preserve at least one really good vein, (like the ones in the crook of the elbow) especially if you are new to shooting up, you ruin a lot of good veins in the beginning just by trial and error. Unfortunately the “easiest” veins to hit for a beginner are often the best veins and in the beginning accidents happen, veins collapse, and before you know it you’ve killed all of the best ones!
- if you “miss” immediately run the miss under hot running water, this helps by allowing the vein to dialate (from the heat) and absorb the missed solution and massage the area.
- if you are red and swollen at an injection site, put a raw potato slice per the area, it takes the redness and swelling away.
- for bruises and track marks, exfoliate the area several times a day and massage baby oil into the bruises/ track marks.
- When injecting in hands inject VERY SLOWLY! These veins are more fragile than they look and are easy to collapse.
- ROTATE INJECTION SITES! Try to avoid shooting into the same location over and over again.
- learn to feel for veins instead of look for them, veins feel bouncier when lightly palpated.
- drink lots of water, half the time I can’t hit it is because I am dehydrated.
- try taking the vitamin l-arginine to help pump up veins if you are having issues finding one.
- avoid shooting into “dangerous” areas such as neck/ jugular, groin, shoulders, chest, those are to be used as last resort injection sites and they require a great amount of skill. These locations are dangerous because they are very close to your arteries in those locations.
- use a new needle every time (as in every single time you enter your skin) if there is no local needle exchange and it is illegal to purchase syringes without a prescription (like it is where I live) you can order insulin syringes online, it’s worth it! This is the best possible thing you can do for your veins.
